MANAGEMENT OF INFECTED LAMINECTOMY WOUNDS

WOUND INFECTION AFTER lumbar, thoracic, or cervical laminectomies is a rave but potentially devastating complication. It can range in severi ty from superficial wound infection to an extensive wound dehiscence. The usual treatment of these wounds consists of intensive local care, debridement, and appropriate antibiotic therapy. Secondary healing can result in chronic, painful wounds that are difficult to manage and ca n create the potential for osteomyelitis. Seven cases of infected dehi scent laminectomy wounds are presented. Either critical structures wer e exposed, or the patients did not heal after secondary or delayed pri mary closures. In each case, full healing was attained by means of rec onstruction with a regional muscle flap. We propose that muscle flap r econstruction offers an excellent alternative for the reconstruction o f difficult postlaminectomy wounds.