title: An unusual instrumentation-related s1 radiculopathy in a patient treated for a primary vertebral (l3) lymphoma.
abstract: Paravertebral titanium rod migration represents an unusual and potentially fatal complication of vertebral stabilization surgical procedures. This condition, which requires a prompt and rapid diagnosis, is often mistaken for other more common diseases, or scotomized. We present a case of a 69 years old female affected by a non-Hodgkin lymphoma with evidence of migration of both rods five years after the posterior stabilization procedure for a pathological L3 fracture. Unusual clinical onset was represented by a left S1 radiculopathy without other symptoms. For several months, the symptoms were attributed to a possible radicular infiltration by the lymphoma. We conclude that paravertebral rod migration could happen not only within the spinal canal, but could also rarely damage blood vessels or parenchymal organs. This is generally a long-term complication, probably due to an insufficient fixation. Strict long-term follow-up monitoring is mandatory since this unusual complication can mimic other more common pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Umberto I General Hospital, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iacoangeli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Rienzo
authors.forename: Niccolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nocchi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gladi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colasanti
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Herber
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobran
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scerrati