title: A rare cause of postoperative paraplegia in minimally invasive spine surgery.
abstract: METHODS
  A case report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a patient who underwent a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion who postoperatively developed paraplegia as a rare complication of a Kirschner wire (K-wire).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The few complications of K-wires that have been reported include, dural tears and damage to intra-abdominal structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case report of a rare complication of a K-wire is reported and the relevant literature was then reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An 85-year-old female with an anterolisthesis at L4-L5 underwent a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Postoperatively she developed paraplegia. A subdural hematoma from T12 to the sacrum was found and evacuated. It is proposed that this rare complication is a result of a K-wire.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Care must be taken with the use of K-wires and additional measures should be carried out such as the marking of its position and radiological confirmation of depth.
  
  
  METHODS
  5.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neurosurgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria, Australia; and †Department of Surgery, the University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thien
authors.forename: Yi Yuen
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation