Ureteral injury after anterior lumbar interbody fusion. A case report. 1996

Z U Isiklar, and R W Lindsey, and M Coburn
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.

METHODS This case report presents a patient with ureter injury after anterior spinal fusion and its management. OBJECTIVE To present possible causes, symptoms, diagnostic approach, and management of this rare complication. BACKGROUND The reported complications of anterior surgical approaches to the lumber spine have been predominantly vascular or neurologic. The susceptibility of the ureter to injury is emphasized by the description of an as-yet-unreported case of ureter laceration after anterior lumbar fusion. METHODS Ureter injury was diagnosed using computed axial tomography, ultrasonography-guided aspiration, and chemical analysis of the aspirate after anterior spinal fusion. RESULTS Early diagnosis of this injury prompted a ureter stent placement and prevented additional deterioration of renal function and infection. CONCLUSIONS The ureter is prone to injury if not identified and protected when sharp and pointed instruments are used for retraction. Abdominal mass, low-grade fever, and leukocytosis should prompt use of computed tomography or ultrasonography-guided aspiration.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007431 Intraoperative Complications Complications that affect patients during surgery. They may or may not be associated with the disease for which the surgery is done, or within the same surgical procedure. Peroperative Complications,Surgical Injuries,Complication, Intraoperative,Complication, Peroperative,Injuries, Surgical,Complications, Intraoperative,Complications, Peroperative,Injury, Surgical,Intraoperative Complication,Peroperative Complication,Surgical Injury
D008159 Lumbar Vertebrae VERTEBRAE in the region of the lower BACK below the THORACIC VERTEBRAE and above the SACRAL VERTEBRAE. Vertebrae, Lumbar
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001239 Inhalation The act of BREATHING in. Inhaling,Inspiration, Respiratory,Respiratory Inspiration
D013123 Spinal Fusion Operative immobilization or ankylosis of two or more vertebrae by fusion of the vertebral bodies with a short bone graft or often with diskectomy or laminectomy. (From Blauvelt & Nelson, A Manual of Orthopaedic Terminology, 5th ed, p236; Dorland, 28th ed) Spondylodesis,Spondylosyndesis,Fusion, Spinal,Fusions, Spinal,Spinal Fusions,Spondylodeses,Spondylosyndeses
D013514 Surgical Procedures, Operative Operations carried out for the correction of deformities and defects, repair of injuries, and diagnosis and cure of certain diseases. (Taber, 18th ed.). Surgical Procedures,Ghost Surgery,Operative Procedures,Operative Surgical Procedure,Operative Surgical Procedures,Procedure, Operative Surgical,Procedures, Operative Surgical,Surgery, Ghost,Surgical Procedure, Operative,Operative Procedure,Procedure, Operative,Procedure, Surgical,Procedures, Operative,Procedures, Surgical,Surgical Procedure
D014057 Tomography, X-Ray Computed Tomography using x-ray transmission and a computer algorithm to reconstruct the image. CAT Scan, X-Ray,CT Scan, X-Ray,Cine-CT,Computerized Tomography, X-Ray,Electron Beam Computed Tomography,Tomodensitometry,Tomography, Transmission Computed,X-Ray Tomography, Computed,CAT Scan, X Ray,CT X Ray,Computed Tomography, X-Ray,Computed X Ray Tomography,Computerized Tomography, X Ray,Electron Beam Tomography,Tomography, X Ray Computed,Tomography, X-Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized Axial,Tomography, Xray Computed,X Ray Computerized Tomography,X Ray Tomography, Computed,X-Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,Beam Tomography, Electron,CAT Scans, X-Ray,CT Scan, X Ray,CT Scans, X-Ray,CT X Rays,Cine CT,Computed Tomography, Transmission,Computed Tomography, X Ray,Computed Tomography, Xray,Computed X-Ray Tomography,Scan, X-Ray CAT,Scan, X-Ray CT,Scans, X-Ray CAT,Scans, X-Ray CT,Tomographies, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Electron Beam,Tomography, X Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X Ray Computerized,Tomography, X Ray Computerized Axial,Transmission Computed Tomography,X Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,X Ray, CT,X Rays, CT,X-Ray CAT Scan,X-Ray CAT Scans,X-Ray CT Scan,X-Ray CT Scans,X-Ray Computed Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Tomography,Xray Computed Tomography
D014513 Ureter One of a pair of thick-walled tubes that transports urine from the KIDNEY PELVIS to the URINARY BLADDER. Ureters

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