What Happens If My Incision Site Becomes Infected After Surgery?
Category: Spine Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: August 26, 2026
Surgical teams and patients are getting better at preventing the onset of an infection after spine surgery, but it’s impossible to get this risk down to zero. Despite everyone’s best efforts, it’s still possible that the incision site will become infected and additional management techniques will need to be pursued. But what are your treatment options if a surgical site infection develops after your back operation? Below, we explain how most incision infections are managed after spine surgery.
Infections After Spine Surgery
Before we talk about treatment protocols, let’s touch base on how to prevent infections from developing in the first place. Your surgeon and their care team will work carefully to eliminate opportunities for bacteria to enter the surgical site during the procedure, but germs can still make their way into your bloodstream while you’re recovering at home. Stitches help to close the site, but until the skin actually heals and closes itself, bacteria can still find a way inside.
Keeping the incision site clean is a must in the days and weeks that follow your procedure when the skin is working to close. Follow your doctor’s specific instructions for caring for your incision site, but expect to change your dressing at least once a day. Keeping the area clean and dry helps the scar form. Some discharge and dampness will be normal, and it’s important that you change your bandages when this occurs, as prolonged exposure to moisture can reopen closing wounds or lead to a more prominent scar.
If you’re having trouble reaching your incision site because of its location, be sure to enlist a friend or family member to assist. Neglecting your surgical site because you can’t reach it on your own is a recipe for infection, so have someone else help change your bandages if you can’t do so on your own.
It’s also helpful to know the signs of an infection, as earlier treatment can prevent more serious complications. Symptoms of a surgical site infection include:
- Redness
- Discolored drainage
- Deep warmth at the incision site
- Odor
- Fever
- Chills
- Pain
If you notice any of these symptoms, reach out to your care team, because time is of the essence.
Treating Surgical Site Infections
Before treatment begins, your doctor will work to determine what type of infection is causing you trouble. The presence of different types of bacteria warrant different care strategies, so it’s helpful to test a sample from the site.
In most instances, surgical site infections can be treated with antibiotics. A course of medication can clear up the infection, but if the infection caused your incision site to reopen or caused problems for any inserted surgical hardware, more care may be required. Restitching the area can ensure the wound site closes correctly the second time around.
If the infection is larger or has caused issues for recently addressed structures or hardware, another surgical procedure may be performed. This may allow the surgeon to fully clear the infected tissue or manage spinal structures that have been impacted by the presence of an infection. Again, it’s imperative to know the signs of an infection, because the sooner the problem is identified and contained, the more likely it is that antibiotics can cure the issue without the need for a revisional procedure.
If you believe you’re dealing with the onset of an infection after spine surgery, don’t hesitate to connect with your spine care team. And if you have questions about specific back issues or treatment options, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
