Received: 19 October 1996 Revised: 12 March 1997 Recognized: 26 March 1997

Cite this short article as: Faraj, A.A. & Webb, J.K. Eur Spine J (1997) 6: 324. doi:10.1007/BF01142678

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Abstract

The complications of 648 consecutively placed Universal AO pedicle screws (140 within the thoracic spine and 508 within the lumbar spine) done by one surgical team to deal with 91 patients with spine problems, were reviewed. The spine pathology was comprised of: scoliosis (34 patients), degenerative lower lumbar spine disease (25 patients), neoplastic spine disease (11 patients), thoracic kyphosis (8 patients), spine fractures (7 patients), lumbo-sacral spondylolisthesis (3 patients), and osteomyelitis (3 patients). Intraoperative complications were: screw misplacement (n = 3), nerve root impingement (n = 1), cerebrospinal fluid leak (n = 2) and pedicle fracture (n = 2). Postoperative complications were deep wound infection (n = 4), screw loosening (n = 2) and fishing rod-screw disconnection (n = 1). The final outcome was that pedicle screw fixation comes with an acceptable complication rate and nerve injuries in this procedure is not likely.

Key phrases

Spine instrumentation Pedicle screw

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information

Authors and Affiliations

• A. A. Faraj
  • 1
• JKay. Webb
  • 1

1. 1. Center of Spine Studies and Surgery College Hospital Nottingham United kingdom

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