Complications in minimally invasive percutaneous fixation of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures and tumors.
OBJECTIVE
We propose to evaluate the complication rate in minimally invasive stabilization (MIS) for spine fractures and tumors, as a common alternative to open fusion and conservative treatment.


METHODS
From 2000 to 2010, 187 patients were treated by minimally invasive percutaneous fixation in 133 traumatic fractures and 54 primitive and/or secondary spine tumors. Complications were classified, according to the period of onset as intraoperative and postoperative, and according to the severity, as major and minor.


RESULTS
A total of 15 complications (8 %) were recorded: 5 intraoperative (3 %), 6 early postoperative (3 %) and 4 late postoperative (2 %); 6 were minor complications (3 %) and 9 were major complications (5 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Minimally invasive stabilization of selected spine pathologies appears to be a safe technique with low complication rate and high patient satisfaction. MIS reduces hospitalization and allows a fast functional recovery improving the quality of life.
Department of Oncological and Degenerative Spine Surgery, Rizzoli Orthopedics Institute, Via G.C. Pupilli 1, 40136, Bologna, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Gasbarrini
Michele
M
Cappuccio
Simone
S
Colangeli
Maria Dolores
MD
Posadas
Riccardo
R
Ghermandi
Luca
L
Amendola
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult