Although rare, wound infections can occur. Usually seen five days or so after a procedure, wound infections may manifest as a red, swollen, tender incision with foul-smelling drainage from the site. The patient may have a fever or other signs of systemic inflammatory response, including an elevated white blood cell count.

Wounds are carefully inspected on a daily basis by the Neurosurgical Team'if any suspicion of wound infection is present, the wound can be cultured and analyzed in the laboratory. Antibiotics may be necessary to treat a wound infection.