Journal of spinal disorders & techniques
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jun 2007
Spinal surgery and ophthalmic complications: a French survey with review of 17 cases.
Ocular complications after spine surgery are incompletely understood and are not as rare as implied by recent publications. In 13 out of 15 published case reports, ocular complications are attributed mainly to compression. But in 66 cases reported in 4 series in the literature, compression seems to play a role in less than 10 cases. However, 3 out of the 4 series lack sufficient detail to support this mechanism clearly. Our objectives were to identify the mechanisms and specific risk factors associated with this devastating complication, to help in prevention. ⋯ The authors propose 2 preventive measures: modification of horseshoe-shaped headrest and precautions with lateral rotation of the head in patients with carotid atheroma.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jun 2007
Safety and efficacy of implant removal for patients with recurrent back pain after a failed degenerative lumbar spine surgery.
The etiology of failed degenerative lumbar spine surgery may include a wide array of conditions. There is a group of patients who have recurrence of back pain despite a solid fusion in the absence of any obvious pain generator. Implant removal in those patients is a controversial optional treatment. ⋯ One patient developed a superficial infection managed successfully. Bivariate analysis showed that percent VAS change after injection, months free of pain after the index operation, and provocation of pain by palpation were significant predictors for pain relief (P<0.05). Removal of the implant may be an efficient and safe procedure for carefully selected patients and the most consistent predictor of its efficacy is the percent pain relief after the diagnostic injection of the painful operative side.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jun 2007
Case ReportsRepeated meningitis as a delayed complication of scoliosis surgery.
Case report. ⋯ Delayed meningitis can be a late complication of spinal instrumentation for scoliosis. A high index of suspicion is necessary.