Implantable direct current spinal fusion stimulators do not decrease implant-related infections in a rabbit model.

Electrical current detaches bacterial biofilm from implanted instrumentation. Hypothetically, this can decrease implant-related infection and allow retention of instrumentation in cases of postoperative wound infections. We conducted a prospective animal study to investigate whether a 60-μAmp implantable direct current (DC) fusion stimulator decreases implant-related infection rates in a multilevel fixed-implant postoperative spinal wound infection model in rabbits.