Understanding perioperative malnutrition is important for postoperative complications and outcomes. In fact, postoperative complications of the lumbar spine can lead to devastating sequelae. Although there may be a direct link between perioperative malnutrition and postoperative wound complications, there is no consensus[22–27].Serum albumin is one of the biochemical indicators of total protein depletion in patients. Our study further confirmed that preoperative hypoproteinemia and postoperative hypoproteinemia are important risk factors for wound complications following single-segment PLIF surgery.
Based on previous reports of wound complications of posterior lumbar surgery, we performed a univariate logistic analysis to investigate the impact of related risk factors. With the subsequent multivariate logistic analysis, we were able to identify 2 independent factors of SWD (preoperative serum albumin < 3.5 g/dl, postoperative serum albumin < 3.0 g/dl) and 2 independent factors of SSI (preoperative serum albumin < 3.5 g/dl, steroid use).
Previous studies have reported that various markers of preoperative malnutrition are associated with surgical site infection following various types of surgery[28].Cross MB et al pointed out that superficial and deep SSI after orthopedic spinal surgery was associated with several markers of malnutrition, such as serological laboratory values, DM, hyperglycemia and obesity[29].Bohl DD et al investigated the relationship between preoperative hypoalbuminemia (a sign of malnutrition) and complications within 30 days after total joint replacement. Compared with patients with normal albumin concentrations, patients with hypoalbuminemia had a higher risk of surgical site infection, pneumonia, prolonged hospital stay, and readmission[30].Similarly, they retrospectively reviewed data prospectively collected by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) to investigate the relationship between preoperative hypoproteinemia (a sign of malnutrition) and complications after 30 days of posterior lumbar fusion. They pointed out that malnutrition was an independent risk factor for infection and wound complications after posterior lumbar fusion, and it was also associated with increased length of stay and readmission[31].
Our data showed that preoperative low serum albumin (< 3.5 g/dL) was significantly associated with an increased risk of postoperative SWD(P = 0.024) and SSI (P = 0.040). We combined the results of these data with previous literature and concluded that, although serum albumin concentration is used to measure nutritional status, hypoalbuminemia may be more closely related to pathological inflammatory status.
In addition, early postoperative hypoproteinemia has also been reported as a risk factor for serious postoperative complications[32–35].Lee JI et al investigated 337 patients with major oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who underwent clean and contaminated surgery and monitored serum albumin, glucose, and hemoglobin levels during the perioperative period. The results showed that early postoperative hypoproteinemia < 2.5 g/dl was an independent risk factor for SSI in patients who underwent oral cancer surgery[36].Bohl DD et al. also reported that malnutrition increased the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total joint arthroplasty (TJA)[37].
We also found that low postoperative serum albumin (< 3.0 g/dL) was significantly associated with an increased risk of postoperative SWD(P < 0.001). However, low postoperative albumin is affected by many factors. Ge X et al noted that the stress response, perioperative fluid overload, hemodilution, albumin redistribution, a breakdown of metabolism and other comprehensive factors cause postoperative albumin decline[38].Despite this, we still need to be wary of hypoalbuminemia with albumin levels < 3.0 g/dl after surgery.
Chronic steroid users (steroid usage for more than 10 days preoperatively) have reportedly increased their risk of infection by two- to three-fold after surgery. Singla A et al reported chronic steroid usage to be a significant risk factor for SSI in their database analysis of 360,005 patients over 65 years of age[39].Similarly, chronic steroid usage was reported to be associated with a higher risk of SSI (OR 20.20, 95% CI 4.43–92.16, P < 0.001).
In our univariate logistic analysis, we found that poor drainage after surgery can lead to SWD (P = 0.003). This may be related to the poor placement of the drainage tube and blockage of the drainage tube. Irregular drainage after surgery is prone to deep congestion and hematoma,SWD and increased risk of infection.However, the OR value is infinitely close to 1,which may be related to the small sample size of SSI group,expanding the sample size is helpful for further research.We also analyzed the increased risk of SSI in those diagnosed with lumbar spondylolisthesis (P = 0.001), which might be related to short-term bed rest after surgery. The elderly patients also needed to be alert to SSI after the operation (P = 0.010). However, this should be further evaluated in future prospective experiments with increased sample sizes.
When malnutrition is detected, timely nutritional supplementation is beneficial to patients' postoperative recovery. Oral nutritional supplements have been shown to be effective in improving nutrient intake, and they can also be given intravenously. Avenell A et al proved that oral non-protein energy, protein, vitamin and mineral supplements can prevent complications after hip fracture in the elderly[40].
The strengths of this study include the use of the same surgical procedure (PLIF) for lumbar fusion and internal fixation. Only single-segment fusion patients were included to reduce the impact of surgical procedures on the results of the study. In future research, it will be important to further explore, elucidate, and establish potential links between malnutrition and adverse incision outcomes after spinal fusion surgery.
The study was limited by the inherent problems of retrospective studies. First, as a retrospective, single institution study, all data on patient characteristics, laboratory test results, medical interventions directly related to abnormal laboratory values, and patient clinical symptoms were dependent on the inherent limitations of the files in the electronic medical record system. Second, the sample size of patients with preoperative hypoalbuminemia (13 cases) was relatively small, and a larger sample size may have been helpful for the statistical analysis. Although the serum albumin value is a valuable tool for assessing nutritional status, it is affected by many perioperative factors, so it cannot be a comprehensive assessment of the nutritional status of patients.