Infection Prevention Innovator
“I’ve done about 16,000 major cases; 5,000 of those have been fusions,” Dr. Collis stated at a 2017 lifetime achievement award acceptance ceremony in Cleveland. “I’ve never had my first infection in all those fusions,” he said.
Dr. Collis said, “I’d say the aspects of spinal surgery that I have perhaps started, certainly contributed to, is geared about safety for the patient.” He described the keys to avoiding infections as: preparation of the body before surgery, antibiotics use and efficient wound draining. While serving as a military surgeon in Hawaii, Dr. Collis researched infection combat after a series of infections became so rampant it led to the closure of a Hawaiian hospital.
He first instructed patients to take a “septosol shampoo and shower” the night before and morning of surgery.
Secondly, Dr. Collis said he initiated new antibiotics protocols. Dr. Collis stated, “Everyone used antibiotics after you had an infection, but after you had the infection, antibiotics almost can’t get to the abscess. You have to open that abscess, drain it, so the antibiotics can get to it.”
“I thought, why not have those antibiotics in you before you start the surgery?” he said.
Dr. Collis reported he received initial criticism for “excessive use of antibiotics.” However, he proceeded to administer pre-surgery antibiotics after a careful comparison of the risks of excessive antibiotics and the risks of surgical infections.
Pre-surgical baths became protocol by the late 1970s and pre-surgical antibiotics use became standard care in the 1990s “Now, I don’t think there’s any surgeon in this country who does spinal surgery without preoperative antibiotics,” he said. “I’m very proud of that.”
A Lifelong Dedication to Patient Care and Outcomes
Dr. Collis contributed to the invention of various spinal surgery tools and technologies. These surgical instruments included those for total disc replacement, a table for disc puncture testing and treatment, a laminectomy retractor, and various other spinal retractors.
Collis wrote a multitude of publications on spinal surgery topics. In addition, Collis was also an innovator in providing patients with a complete copy of all medical and test records and doctor’s notes.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Collis continued to be devoted to his patients, quickly adapting to telemedicine in order to care for patients and confer with surgeons.
“I look at patients like they are family. I believe we must treat others the way we want to be treated,” said Dr. Collis. “That is why in my operating room environment is church-like, and I mean the old fashioned church, when it was quiet. At a Catholic Mass, the attention is on the Eucharist, on God; in my operating room I want my team quiet, focused only on the patient.”
This wonderful man gave me back my life in 1980 when I was 30. After the surgery for the L5 disc, in 6 months, I was back on a horse, training and jumping again. God bless you and your family.
This incredible doctor saved my life. I was 13 years old. He found a blood clot pressing upon my optic nerve. He found it. I was told the blood clot was caused by a blow to my head. I had severe headaches that were so painful that a number of aspirins would not relieve any pain at all. When I would take a step, my head would throb. I was starting to lose my eyesight. Was told this blood clot he found would cause me to go blind and eventually I would lose my life. He operated on my head. I believe, from follow up doctor discussions, the surgery took 12 hours. This man has been a hero in my life. I am certain he had an impact on many other’s lives. May our God hold him in His arms.