PLACE OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE SPINAL INFECTIONS: ABOUT 14 CASES

Background: The prevalence of post-operative spinal infections is constantly on the rise, linked to the increasing age of the population. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality, high costs and altered well-being, hence the need to assess the efficacy of adjunctive treatments, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in increasing the chances of successful overall management of this type of infection.

Materials and methods: A retrospective study spread over a period of 04 years, including 14 patients referred to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy department for postoperative spinal infections: spondylodiscitis and surgical site infections. The indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy was based on the lack of favorable clinical and biological evolution after first-line treatment.

Results: The clinical and paraclinical evolution was considered favorable in all patients in our series, with radiological resolution of the infection at the end of hyperbaric treatment in 11 patients, and within 2 months in the others.

Conclusion: this study shows the beneficial action of HBOT in post-operative spinal infections refractory to first-line treatment, and suggests the systematic introduction of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in post-operative patients predisposed to infectious complications, particularly in cases of associated comorbidities.