Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Objectives: To determine if pre-operative albumin and CRP can predict post-operative infections after lumbar surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), or lumbar discectomy were identified using a patient record database (PearlDiver) and were included in this retrospective study. Patients were stratified by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores and pre-operative albumin and CRP status. Post-operative complications included deep infections and urinary tract infections within 3 months of the surgery and revisions within 1 year of the surgery. Results: 74,280 patients were included in this study. 21,903 had pre-operative albumin or CRP lab values. 7,191 (33%), 12,183 (56%), and 2,529 (12%) patients underwent an ALIF, PLIF, and a lumbar discectomy, respectively. 16,191 did not have any complication (74%). The most common complication was UTI (16%). Among all patients, hypoalbuminemia was a significant risk factor for deep infection and UTI after ALIF, deep infection, UTI, and surgical revision after PLIF, and deep infection after lumbar discectomy. Elevated CRP was a significant risk factor for deep infection after ALIF, UTI after PLIF, and deep infection after lumbar discectomy in patients with a CCI ≤ 3. Conclusions: Pre-operative hypoalbuminemia and elevated CRP were significant risk factors for deep infection, UTI, and/or revision, after ALIF, PLIT, and/or lumbar discectomy. Future studies with a larger population of patients with low albumin and high CRP values are needed to further elaborate on the current findings.
Association of Renal Scarring With Number of Febrile Urinary Tract Infections in Children