Should a cage be removed in patients with postoperative spine infection?

Authors: Pouya Alijanipour, Caroline Granger

RECOMMENDATION: No. The interbody cage can be maintained in the absence of clinical and radiographic signs of loosening or displacement of the cage or compression on neural and vascular structures. However, the cage should be removed if the infection persists despite salvage attempts consisting of irrigation and debridement procedures combined with intravenous antibiotic treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Limited

DELEGATE VOTE: Agree: 73%, Disagree: 0%, Abstain: 27% (Super Majority, Strong Consensus)

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