Even though spine surgery continues to get smaller thanks to minimally invasive techniques, odds are you will have one or more incision sites that you’ll need to care for after your operation. You’ll want to keep a close eye on the incision site and clean the area as recommended by your doctor until the wound fully closes, otherwise an infection can develop and jeopardize the integrity of your entire operation.
One common side effect associated with a recovering wound site is drainage. Some drainage is expected, but too much can be a warning sign of an infection. So how can you tell if you should be worried about the drainage at your surgical site? We answer that question and more in today’s blog.
Surgical Site Drainage – What’s Normal?
As your body works to repair the incision site in the wake of surgery, you can expect some very mild symptoms at the site. You may notice some inflammation and some drainage, but this can be expected and generally isn’t really a cause for concern. If the inflammation is mild and the drainage is light, thin and watery, there typically isn’t anything to worry about. Change your dressing as advised and try to keep the area dry so that healing can continue to run its course.
However, if you’re dealing with other symptoms at the surgical site, it may be time to consult with your care team to ensure that you stop a potentially hazardous infection before it causes problems. Some drainage-related symptoms that may suggest the beginning of an infection or another problem with your surgical site include:
- Thick drainage that’s yellow or green in color
- Excessive bleeding
- Foul smelling discharge
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out to your spine surgeon for advice on what next steps you should take. It’s also worth noting that spotting signs of a surgical site infection can be difficult for spine surgery patients because they can’t always view the surgical site easily. If you cannot easily view the incision site or are having difficulty cleaning the area or changing your dressing, enlist a friend or family member to help and ask if they see any of the warning signs listed above. If you try to change your bandages on your own without clearly visualizing the area, the signs of an infection can be missed, so always try to get a clear view of the area with a mirror or with the help of another person.
Some clear and painless drainage is to be expected during the course of your recovery, but bloody, discolored or foul smelling drainage could be a sign of an infection. Dr. Sinicropi always works to help limit your chance of an infection by performing minimally invasive techniques when possible to reduce the size of the incision site, which leads to faster healing. He also works with every patient to ensure they know the best practices for cleaning the site and changing their dressings. So if you want to connect with a surgeon who will work tirelessly to reduce your risk of a surgical site infection, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
