Low-Cost Wound Healing Protocol Reduces Infection and Reoperation Rates After Cranioplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cranioplasty infections are a common and expensive problem associated with significant morbidity. Our objective was to determine whether a wound healing protocol after cranioplasty reduced the rate of infections and to determine the value of this intervention. METHODS: This is a single-institution retrospective chart review of 2 cohorts of cranioplasty patients over 12 years. The wound healing protocol, consisting of vitamin and mineral supplementation, fluid supplementation, and oxygen support, was instituted for all patients aged older than 15 years undergoing cranioplasty. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients over the study period and compared outcomes before and after protocol institution. Outcomes included surgical site infection, return to operating room within 30 days, and cranioplasty explant. Cost data were collected from the electronic medical record. We included 291 cranioplasties performed before the wound healing protocol and 68 postprotocol. RESULTS: Baseline demographics and comorbidities were comparable between preprotocol and postprotocol groups. Odds of takeback to operating room within 30 days were the same before and after the wound healing protocol (odds ratio [OR] 2.21 [95% CI 0.76-6.47], P = .145). Odds of clinical concern for surgical site infection were significantly higher in the preprotocol group (OR 5.21 [95% CI 1.22-22.17], P = .025). Risk of washout was higher in the preprotocol group (HR 2.86 [95% CI 1.08-7.58], P = .035). Probability of cranioplasty flap explant was also significantly higher in the preprotocol group (OR 4.70 [95% CI 1.10-20.05], P = .036). The number needed to treat to prevent 1 cranioplasty infection was 24. CONCLUSION: A low-cost wound healing protocol was associated with reduced rate of infections after cranioplasty with concomitant reduction in reoperations for washout, saving the health care system more than $50,000 per 24 patients. Prospective study is warranted.