Single-dose vs multiple-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in instrumented lumbar fusion--a prospective study.

Background: This prospective investigation was designed to determine if the postoperative infection rate in instrumented lumbar spinal fusion is affected by postoperative antibiotic use.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-nine patients were randomized into either a preoperative only protocol or preoperative with an extended postoperative antibiotic protocol. The preoperative only protocol received a single dose of cefazolin IV.

Minimally invasive implantation of epidural spinal cord neurostimulator electrodes by using a tubular retractor system. Technical note.

The authors describe a novel technique for the implantation of multipolar epidural spinal cord neurostimulator electrodes with the aid of a tubular retractor system. Spinal cord neurostimulation is used as a neuroaugmentive tool for treating chronic intractable pain syndromes. Minimally invasive placement of the multipolar neurostimulator electrodes may allow for shorter hospital stays and less postoperative pain associated with the incision.