title: Classification and management of early complications in open lumbar microdiscectomy.
abstract: Complications and side effects in any kind of surgery, especially in spine surgery, should be evaluated to prevent those problems in the future. Since retrospective studies are of minor value and randomized controlled studies for complications are impossible to perform because of ethical and legal reasons, so-called "expert opinion" has to take their place in evidence-based medicine. On the basis of an analysis of the results of three spine centers together with the opinions of experienced spine surgeons, the authors have drawn up a classification of complications in open lumbar disc surgery and recommendations on how to manage common complications such as excessive bleeding, dural opening, nerve root lesions and recurrent disc herniation. The management of intraoperative complications should have the same training in microdiscectomy instructional courses as the operation itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Heinrich-Heine University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. KraemerRo@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haak
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herdmann
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krauspe
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraemer
mesh_terms: D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000145:classification* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors