Frequency and Associated Factors of Postoperative Wound Dehiscence in Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery

Wound dehiscence after cervical spine surgery is a well-known complication that can be a challenge for spine surgeons to manage, especially in cases of exposed implants. However, few studies have focused primarily on this phenomenon in cervical spine surgery to date. This investigation sought to determine the frequency of wound dehiscence following posterior cervical spine surgery and identify patient-based risk factors. The medical data of 405 consecutive patients (290 male and 115 female; mean age: 68.9 years) who underwent posterior cervical spine surgery were retrospectively examined. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of postoperative wound dehiscence. We observed that 5.2% of cervical spine surgery patients experienced procedural postoperative wound dehiscence. In comparisons of dehiscence and non-dehiscence groups, significant differences were found for posterior instrumented fusion (81.0% vs. 45.3%; P < 0.01), extended T1 fusion (57.1% vs. 12.8%; P < 0.01), occipitocervical fusion (19.0% vs. 6.2%; P = 0.048), fused intervertebral levels (4.0 vs. 1.5; P < 0.01), surgical time (246 minutes vs. 165 minutes; P < 0.01), blood loss volume (228 mL vs. 148 mL; P = 0.023), and dialysis (14.3% vs. 1.8%; P = 0.011). Multivariate analysis identified extended T1 fusion and dialysis to be significantly associated with wound dehiscence with odds ratios of 5.82 and 10.70, respectively. The observed frequency of postoperative wound dehiscence in cervical spine surgery was 5.2%. As extended T1 fusion and dialysis may increase the risk of dehiscence after surgery, patients who display such risk factors may require additional observation and care.