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Instrumentation
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  Posterior Cervical
Overview
Risks/Complications
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POSTERIOR CERVICAL INSTRUMENTATION
Possible Risks/Complications
Possible risks and complications with placement of posterior cervical instrumentation include:
  • infection
  • Bleeding: The vertebral artery runs near the area used for pedicle and lateral mass screws. Laceration of the vertebral artery can result in bleeding.
  • Stroke: Occlusion of the vertebral artery can lead to stroke.
Additional risks with the procedure include, but are not limited to
  • Non-union
  • Adjacent Degenerative Disease When a segment of the spine is rendered stiff, the stress and strain of motion can result in breakdown of the adjacent levels. Recurrent pain after successful spinal fusion and instrumentation procedure is more likely due to a "transfer" lesion at the motion segment above or below the fusion, because stress is transferred to the next level and may cause that vertebral segment to degenerate and breakdown.
  • Nerve Damage Nerve damage can occur to the nerve roots or spinal cord with placement of the instrumentation, or if the instrumentation dislodges or migrates.
  • Loss of correction of the deformity If the instrumentation loses its hold on the bone, deformity can recur such as kyphosis.
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