The Role of Debridement and Antibiotics in Gunshot Wounds to the Spine

Abstract

There is a significantly higher rate of spine and wound infections with trans-gastrointestinal gunshot wounds to the spine. These injuries, particularly those that involve the colon, put patients at risk for the development of spine infections after spinal surgery. Randomized controlled trials are necessary for the development of a specific protocol for intravenous antibiotic therapy in the setting of transgastrointestinal gunshot wounds to the spine.