DOS 2017

206

· DOS Abstracts

Complication-rate of severe complications after

lumbar discectomy

Stina Brogård Andersen, Karen Højmark, Frederik Busch, Mikkel Andersen

Rygkirurgisk sektor, Rygcenter Syddanmark, Sygehus Lillebælt

Background:

Accurate knowledge on complication rates following lumbar dis-

cectomy is important, when obtaining informed consent from the patients and

balancing the surgeon and the patient’s expectation about surgery

Purpose / Aim of Study:

The purpose of the present study is to determine the

complication-rate of severe complications after lumbar discectomy.

Materials and Methods:

All patients who underwent primary discectomy due

to lumbar disc herniation from June 2010 to February 2017 at Center for Spine

Surgery and Research, Middelfart were included. Data on new onset neurologi-

cal deficits and urinary disorders were reported by physiotherapists at follow-

up consultations one month postoperative. Data on: thrombosis, embolism, uri-

nary retention, perioperative infection, root injury or cauda equina reported by

surgeons at discharge, and data on: deep infection, thrombosis or embolism up

till 3 months postoperative, reported by patients one year postoperative, were

collected from the national spine surgery database DaneSpine.

Findings / Results:

129 the 2596 patients identified had experienced at least

one severe complication after surgery (5%). Distribution of complications:

Thrombosis (8), embolism (1), urinary retention (5), root injury (8), cauda equi-

na (3), infection perioperative (1), deep infection (25), new neurological deficits

(40), new urinary disorder (53). 15 patients experienced two complications.

Conclusions:

In this study the rate of serious complications after primary

lumbar discectomy is 5%. However which complications are considered severe

needs further discussion, as well as by whom, when and how they should be

reported. Furthermore one should be aware that some deficits could actually be

a consequence of the primary disc herniation.

No conflicts of interest reported

158.