title: Small bowel injury as a complication of lumbar microdiscectomy : case report and literature review.
abstract: Small bowel injury resulting from unforeseen penetration of the anterior annulus fibrosus and longitudinal ligament is a rare complication of lumbar microdiscectomy. The patient complained of abdominal tenderness and distention immediately after microdiscectomy for L4-5 and L5-S1 disc herniation. Using abdominal computed tomography, we found several foci of air overlying the anterior aspect of the vertebral body at the L5-S1 level. Segmental resection of the small bowel including small tears and primary anastomosis of the jejunum were performed. Here, we present a case of intestinal perforation after lumbar microdiscectomy and discuss technical methods to prevent this complication with a review of literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Hospital & Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Sung
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung-Kil
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Sub
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jae-Kyun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Soo-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim