Potential Risks and Complications of Surgery

• Hemorrhage or formation of a wound hematoma

• Damage to the carotid or vertebral artery resulting in a stroke or excessive bleeding, even death

• Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve resulting in hoarseness

• Damage to the superior laryngeal nerve resulting in swallowing disturbance

• Damage to the esophagus or trachea resulting in infection

• Damage to the dura, resulting in a cerebrospinal fluid leak or pocket of cerebral spinal fluid beneath the incision (pseudomeningocele)

Article continues below

• Mechanical complications of the graft and plate (including graft migration, breakage of the plate, screw pullout, etc.)

• Wound infection

• Development of painful pseudoarthrosis (failure of adequate fusion to occur)

• Damage to the spinal cord or nerve root(s) resulting in pain, weakness, paralysis, loss of sensation, loss of bowel or bladder function, impaired sexual function, etc.

• Article written By:
• Thomas M. Wascher, MD, FACS

August 29, 2001

Print