C-reactive protein to albumin ratio as a predictor of early postoperative wound complications in patients undergoing posterior lumbar spine surgery - Scorecard - MDSpire

C-reactive protein to albumin ratio as a predictor of early postoperative wound complications in patients undergoing posterior lumbar spine surgery

  • By

  • Tao Niu

  • Haoran Zhang

  • Peng Xie

  • Shibin Shen

  • Haoran Huang

  • Zhenggang Zhou

  • Bin Wang

  • Jianlin Ma

  • May 28, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Scorecard: The Role of C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio in Forecasting Early Wound Complications After Posterior Lumbar Spine Surgery

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionEarly postoperative wound complications after posterior lumbar spine surgery
Key MechanismsC-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) as a biomarker for systemic inflammation and nutritional status
Target PopulationPatients undergoing posterior lumbar spine surgery
Care SettingSingle-center retrospective study

Key Highlights

  • Preoperative CAR ≥0.9 is an independent predictor of postoperative wound complications.
  • Higher CAR was significantly associated with wound complications in patients undergoing interbody fusion and multilevel surgery.
  • Traditional risk factors include advanced age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and smoking.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Evaluate preoperative CAR for risk stratification of wound complications.

Management

  • Consider CAR in preoperative assessments to optimize surgical outcomes.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Monitor CAR levels as part of the preoperative evaluation.

Risks

  • Patients with high CAR may have increased risk for early postoperative wound complications.

Patient & Prescribing Data

420 patients who underwent posterior lumbar spine surgery

Preoperative assessment of CAR may facilitate personalized risk stratification.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Incorporate CAR into preoperative evaluations for patients at risk of wound complications.
  • Utilize CAR in conjunction with traditional risk factors for comprehensive assessment.

Related Resources & Content

Original Source(s)

C-reactive protein to albumin ratio as a predictor of early postoperative wound complications in patients undergoing posterior lumbar spine surgery

  • by Tao Niu, Haoran Zhang, Peng Xie, Shibin Shen, Haoran Huang, Zhenggang Zhou, Bin Wang, Jianlin Ma

  • May 28, 2026

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