TITLE:
Risk Factors Associated with Postoperative Incision Infection after Surgery for Spinal Metastases and Nursing Interventions
AUTHORS:
Xinyi Liang, Hongying Zhang
KEYWORDS:
Surgery for Spinal Metastases, Incisional Infection, Associated Factors, Nursing Measures
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery,
Vol.16 No.4,
August
17,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To investigate factors associated with postoperative incision infection in patients with spinal metastases and provide evidence for reducing the incidence of postoperative wound infection. Methods: We retrospectively included 223 patients who underwent surgical resection for spinal metastatic tumors at our hospital during the period from December 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025 as research participants. Patients were divided according to the occurrence of wound infection into an observation group (11 cases) and a control group (212 cases). The two groups were compared and analyzed with respect to 18 indicators, including surgical approach, postoperative drainage duration, surgical site, age, operative time, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, BMI, intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin, serum albumin, hypertension, sex, peripheral blood inflammatory markers, history of smoking and alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, internal fixation, and others, to assess their effects on wound infection. Conclusion: Postoperative drainage duration, surgical site, age, and operative time were independent factors influencing postoperative incision infection after surgery for spinal metastases. Among them, postoperative drainage duration, surgical site, and operative time were independent risk factors, whereas age was a protective factor; surgical approach had no independent effect. When formulating a surgical plan for resection of spinal metastases, the above factors should be considered. Intraoperatively, operative time should be controlled; postoperatively, patients should be rigorously assessed and wound drains should be removed in a timely manner to reduce the risk of postoperative incision infection. Targeted nursing measures should also be implemented according to patients’ postoperative conditions, thereby improving the quality of clinical nursing and patient prognosis.