Experience of successful treatment of an infected soft tissue defect of the lumbar spine region with a perforating skin flap

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious complications of the surgical area are a severe problem after spinal surgery. The most frequently cited figure in the literature is 2.0–2.5% of surgical site infections. Sometimes these complications are accompanied by a soft tissue defect, which requires a special approach, including skin grafting. Clinical case description: This article describes a clinical case of an infectious complication of a postoperative wound of the lumbar region. As a result of the complication treatment, a tissue defect of 12×6cm was formed. The wound contained previously installed metal screws and rods. To solve this problem, the defect was replaced with a perforant lumbar flap. The metal structures were not removed. The postoperative wound healed well, the metal structure was preserved, the patient has been dynamically observed since 2014. Conclusion: Skin plasty with a perforant skin flap is one of the options of choice in the treatment of soft tissue defects in case of infectious complications in the area of spine surgery.