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. 2015 Dec;5(6):466-70.
doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1566227.

Is Hydronephrosis a Complication after Anterior Lumbar Surgery?

Ruth M Parks  1 , Eyal Behrbalk  1 , Syed Mosharraf  2 , Roger M Müller  3 , Bronek M Boszczyk  1
Affiliations

Is Hydronephrosis a Complication after Anterior Lumbar Surgery?

Ruth M Parks et al. Global Spine J. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Study Design Prospective follow-up design. Objective Ureteral injury is a recognized complication following gynecologic surgery and can result in hydronephrosis. Anterior lumbar surgery includes procedures like anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and total disk replacement (TDR). Anterior approaches to the spine require mobilization of the great vessels and visceral organs. The vascular supply to the ureter arising from the iliac arteries may be compromised during midline retraction of the ureter, which could theoretically lead to ureter ischemia and stricture with subsequent hydronephrosis formation. Methods Potential candidates with previous ALIF or TDR via anterior retroperitoneal access between January 2008 and March 2012 were chosen from those operated on by a single surgeon in a university hospital setting (n = 85). Renal ultrasound evaluation of hydronephrosis was performed on all participants. Simple descriptive and inferential statistics were used to generate results. Results A total of 37 voluntary participants were recruited (23 male, 14 female subjects; average age 51.8 years). The prevalence of hydronephrosis in our population was 0.0% (95% confidence interval 0 to 8.1%). Conclusions Retraction of the ureter across the midline in ALIF and TDR does not result in an increase in hydronephrosis and appears to be a safe surgical technique.

Keywords: anterior lumbar interbody fusion; hydronephrosis; surgical complications total disc replacement; ureter.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethical Approval Obtained by Nottingham Research and Ethics Committee. Disclosures Ruth M. Parks, none Eyal Behrbalk, none Syed Mosharraf, none Roger M. Müller, Consulting fee/honorarium: AOSpine International Bronek M. Boszczyk, Fellowship support: Synthes

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Patient sample and selection.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Vascular supply of the ureter with percentage contribution from important vessels.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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