An infection can be in the skin incision only, or it can spread deeper to involve the areas around the spinal cord and the vertebrae. A wound infection that involves only the skin incision is considered superficial. It is less serious and easier to treat than a deeper infection. A superficial wound infection can usually be treated with antibiotics, and perhaps removing the skin stitches.
The deeper wound infections can be very serious and will probably require additional operations to drain the infection. In the worst cases, any bone graft, metal screws, or plates that were used may need to be removed. Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect that you have an infection. Some indications of infection include
- a surgical wound that is red, hot, swollen and does not heal
- clear liquid or yellow pus oozing from the wound
- wound drainage that smells bad
- increasing pain
- fever and shaking chills
