Paper #36: Limiting Pre-Incision Instrument Uncovered Time via Quality Practice Intervention Decreases VEPTR Implantation Surgical Site Infections

Summary Increased preoperative instrument exposure has been hypothesized to contribute to a greater risk of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) in spine surgery. As such, a quality practice intervention (QPI) was implemented to reduce the instruments uncovered time (IUT) for VEPTR implantation. Reductions in IUT were significantly associated with decreased incidence of SSIs. In a multivariate logistic regression model controlling for significant confounders, IUTs exceeding 100 minutes were associated with 8.5 times the odds of developing a SSI.