Posterior cranial fossa and spinal local infections

Object: The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge on the management of local infections in posterior cranial fossa (PCF) and spinal surgery; the center of our paper will be the diagnosis and management of infections of the wound, the subcutaneous tissue, and muscle strata. Results and conclusions: Very few papers address the problem of local infections in posterior cranial fossa and spinal surgery. The largest amount of the literature data is indeed centered on how to deal with deep infections, CSF leak, and secondary meningitis or hardware infection. Concerning PCF surgery, a higher rate of local infections has been reported, compared with supratentorial surgery. To prevent such complications, prophylaxis remains the most important tool in dealing with local infections; a careful surgical planning and patient selection are also important. On the other hand, in dealing with local infection in spinal setting, there are several evidences that local vancomycin might help reducing them in adults as well as in children. The treatment protocol consists in antibiotic therapy and, whenever needed, wound revision to remove infectious material or to obtain a microbiological diagnosis. Prognosis has overall to be considered favorable both in the short term as well as in the long term.