Postoperative spinal surgical site infections (SSI) have a significant effect on patient morbidity and mortality.1 Spinal SSI as well as other complications including pseudoarthrosis occur at a higher rate in patients with comorbidities including obesity, smoking history, diabetes, steroid use, older age, and higher modified frailty index.2 Patients of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers have higher number of comorbidities than non-VA patients, and are therefore at higher risk for postoperative spinal SSI and complications.3,4 Spinal SSI has been reported to be anywhere from <1% in decompressions to >10% after instrumented fusion.5 Anecdotal evidence has suggested SSI to be as high as 20% among our population. As spine surgeons for the largest VA in the country, our team sought a product that could reduce the rate of spinal SSI, and ideally result in improved patient outcomes, in our at-risk patient population.
Skye Biologics offers placental tissue-based matrices in the form of both flowable and solid mediums. The flowable matrix has been shown in-vitro to contain significant amounts of collagen and growth factors, as well as molecules known to modulate immune response. The results of this have been in-vitro inhibition of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus proliferation, increase in migration of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), adherence to the ASCs in cultures.6 In translation of these results clinical application has been well received, with various subspecialties including ENT and orthopedics using the products. Based on both the positive in vitro and in vivo results, out team began using the flowable product with good initial subjective results, including improved wound healing and excellent patient satisfaction. The true clinical efficacy remains to be assessed, however. Our team sought to provide level 1 evidence on this product in thoracolumbosacaral posterior spinal decompression and/or fusion in our at-risk population via a single-blinded randomized control trial at high-volume institution (s).
