title: Small bowel perforation--an unusual complication of microdiscectomy: a case report.
abstract: A 45-year-old woman underwent microdiscectomy for sciatalgia due to prolapsed intravertebral disc between the fifth lumbar and first sacral vertebrae. Post-operatively, she developed abdominal pain and tenderness. Abdominal computerised tomography scan showed evidence of small bowel perforation. She underwent laparotomy and repair of an iatrogenic small bowel injury of the proximal ileum. Small bowel perforation is a rare complication of microdiscectomy and should be considered if abdominal symptoms develop post-operatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Worthing Hospital, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2DH. jabir602001@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shakir
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Paterson
mesh_terms: D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012585:Sciatica / Q000601:surgery