Complications in minimally invasive percutaneous fixation of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures and tumors

Abstract

Purpose: 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.

Fig. 1

Mono-level percutaneous fixation in traumatic fracture

Fig. 2

Mono-level percutaneous fixation in a plasmocytoma case

Fig. 3

MIS fixation in a T10 pathological fracture for plasmocytoma. a Preoperative CT scan; b postoperative sagittal CT scan; c CT scan control after 4 months of follow-up showing loosening of distal screws

Fig. 4

CT scan control of the case reported in Fig. 3 performed after a new fixation