Vulnerability of the femoral nerve during complex anterior and posterior spinal surgery.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2009
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Femoral nerve palsy is not a common adverse effect of lumbar spinal surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To report 3 unique cases of femoral nerve neuropathy due to instrumentation and positioning during complex anterior and posterior spinal surgery.
METHODS: Case series
RESULTS: All 3 patients demonstrated femoral nerve neuropathy. The first patient presented postoperatively but after 6 months, the palsy resolved. Femoral nerve malfunctioning was documented in the second and third patients intraoperatively; however, with rapid patient repositioning and removal of offending instrumentation, postoperative palsy was avoided.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of motor evoked potential monitoring of the femoral nerve during surgery is vital for the prevention of future neuropathies, an avoidable complication of spinal surgery.
Volume
32
Issue
4
First Page
432
Last Page
435
ISSN
1079-0268
Published In/Presented At
Naroji, S., Belin, L. J., Maltenfort, M. G., Vaccaro, A. R., Schwartz, D., Harrop, J. S., & Weinstein, M. (2009). Vulnerability of the femoral nerve during complex anterior and posterior spinal surgery. The journal of spinal cord medicine, 32(4), 432–435. https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2009.11753252
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
19777866
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article