title: A case report of rod migration into cerebellum through foramen magnum after lateral mass fixation of cervical spine.
abstract: We report on a rare case of connecting rod migration into the posterior cranial fossa after posterior cervical decompression and lateral mass screw fixation. A 55-year-old male patient who was operated on for ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament complained of sudden-onset giddiness followed by loss of consciousness one and half year following surgery. CT scan showed migration of left-sided connecting rod into the right cerebellum through foramen magnum. The patient was operated on for rod removal but he sustained a cardiorespiratory arrest and died on the eighth postoperative day. Autopsy confirmed damage to the right cerebellum due to rod migration. The clinician should be aware that superior rod migration is a rare but potentially disastrous complication. Regular follow-up with radiological evaluation should be done to look for implant loosening, migration, and non-union even in asymptomatic patients. The implant should be subsequently removed after it has served its purpose.
authors.affiliation: B.Y.L Nair Charitable Hospital & T.N Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400008, India.
authors.forename: Belsare
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.affiliation: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Central Railway Hospital, Mumbai, 400027, India. drayush@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ayush
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: B.Y.L Nair Charitable Hospital & T.N Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400008, India.
authors.forename: Gedam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prashant
authors.affiliation: B.Y.L Nair Charitable Hospital & T.N Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400008, India.
authors.forename: Aseem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parekh
mesh_terms: D001863:Bone Screws; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure
keywords: Cranial fossa; Lateral mass fixation; Rod migration