Chylous leakage after circumferential thoracolumbar fusion for correction of kyphosis resulting from fracture. Report of three cases.
METHODS
A description of the clinical picture of chylous leakage after spinal surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To present the clinical course of three cases of chylous leakage after spinal surgery and to discuss the pathogenesis of the disease.


BACKGROUND
Chylous leakage is a rare complication after spinal surgery. It has been attributed to direct injury of a lymphatic trunk or one of its major tributaries by surgical maneuver.


METHODS
Three cases of chylous leakage after circumferential thoracolumbar fusion for correction of kyphosis resulting from fracture were reported.


RESULTS
All of the three cases were managed successfully; two cases of chyloretroperitoneum detected within 4 days after surgery were healed conservatively, but one case of chylothorax of which the onset was noticed 5 weeks after spinal surgery, required surgical ligation of the thoracic duct and pleurodesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Early detection of this disease is important for a good prognosis. Retroperitoneal drainage is necessary for the detection and management of chyloretroperitoneum. The pathogenesis and management of the chylous leakage are discussed in this report.
Nagai
H
H
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Shimizu
K
K
Shikata
J
J
Iida
H
H
Matsushita
M
M
Ido
K
K
Nakamura
T
T
D000328:Adult; D002913:Chyle; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002915:Chylous Ascites / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery