title: Early complications of spinal pedicle screw.
abstract: The complications of 648 consecutively inserted Universal AO pedicle screws (140 in the thoracic spine and 508 in the lumbar spine) performed by one surgical team to treat 91 patients with spinal problems, were reviewed. The spinal pathology consisted of: scoliosis (34 patients), degenerative lower lumbar spinal disease (25 patients), neoplastic spinal disease (11 patients), thoracic kyphosis (8 patients), spinal fractures (7 patients), lumbo-sacral spondylolisthesis (3 patients), and osteomyelitis (3 patients). Intraoperative complications were: screw misplacement (n = 3), nerve root impingement (n = 1), cerebrospinal fluid leak (n = 2) and pedicle fracture (n = 2). Postoperative complications were; deep wound infection (n = 4), screw loosening (n = 2) and rod-screw disconnection (n = 1). The conclusion was that pedicle screw fixation has an acceptable complication rate and neurological injury during this procedure is unlikely.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Spinal Studies and Surgery, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Faraj
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012449:Safety; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*