The unusual presentation of a vascular injury after lumbar microdiscectomy: case report

Inferior Mesenteric Artery Injury in Post-lumbar Microdiscectomy: A Case Report

Iatrogenic vascular injury during lumbar microdiscectomy is a rather rare complication, but it can have fatal consequences. Here, we report a patient who underwent an L5-S1 microdiscectomy, which was complicated by inferior mesenteric artery injury. The patient presented in the recovery room with symptoms of hypotension and tachycardia after the operation which was successfully managed by endovascular embolization. The patient was positioned in a prone position, which may have contributed to the development of vascular injury. To prevent potential complications, we advised using the Jackson table rather than a standard surgical table and thoroughly inspecting the abdomen and pelvis prior to the operation.

Morphometric analysis of the lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs in relation to abdominal aorta: CT-based study

Purpose

Although lumbar discectomy is the most common procedure in spine surgery, reports about anatomical relations between discs and prevertebral vessels are limited. Aim of this research was to investigate morphometric of the lumbar region and the relations between intervertebral discs (IVDs) and abdominal aorta.

Methods

557 abdominal computed tomography scans were assessed. For each spinal column level from Th12/L1 down to L4/L5, we investigated: intervertebral disc’s and vertebra’s height, width, length, and distance from aorta or common iliac artery (CIA). Those arteries were also measured in two dimensions and classified based on location.

Results

54.58% of patients were male. There was a significant difference in arterial-disc distances (ADDs) between genders at the levels: L1/L2 (1.32 ± 1.97 vs. 0.96 ± 1.78 mm; p = 0.0194), L2/L3 (1.97 ± 2.16 vs. 1.15 ± 2.01 mm; p < 0.0001), L3/L4 (2.54 ± 2.78 vs. 1.71 ± 2.61 mm; p = 0.0012), also for both CIAs (left CIA 3.64 ± 3.63 vs. 2.6 ± 3.06 mm; p = 0.0004 and right CIA: 7.96 ± 5.06 vs. 5.8 ± 4.57 mm; p < 0.001)—those ADDs were higher in men at all levels. The length and width of IVD increased alongside with disc level with the maximum at L4/L5.

Conclusion

Bifurcations of the aorta in most cases occurred at the L4 level. Collected data suggest that at the highest lumbar levels, there is a greater possibility to cause injury of the aorta due to its close anatomical relationship with discs. Females have limited, in comparison to males, ADD at L1/L2, L2/L3, and L3/L4 levels what should be taken into consideration during preoperative planning of surgical intervention.

Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula of the iliac artery after lumbar discectomy surgery: a systematic review of the last 18 years

Patients with iatrogenic iliac arteriovenous fistulas (IAVFs) after lumbar discectomy surgeries (LDSs) from our hospital and the published literature were reviewed in order to better understand this clinical phenomenon. Literature from databases about iatrogenic IAVFs after LDSs were retrieved and a patient from our hospital was reviewed with emphasis placed upon the patient's clinical data. From 31 publications and studies of 44 individuals' data, the study revealed L4-L5 and/or L5-S1 intervertebral space levels were mostly involved (62.0%). Most of the patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) and/or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examinations to confirm the potential diagnosis and rule out other differential diagnosis (86.4%). Most of the patients (63.6%) developed features of high output heart failure months to years after the LDSs, and the majority of them (88.6%) were treated with endovascular repairs. An iatrogenic IAVF after an LDS is a rare occurrence; however, more attention should be paid to it for the purpose of obtaining accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

C-2 arteriovenous fistula presenting as a pathologic hangman's fracture: case report

The authors report on an 81-year-old woman with a pathologic hangman's fracture secondary to a complex arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The patient presented with severe, unremitting neck pain and was found to have fractures bilaterally through the pars interarticularis of C-2 with significant anterior subluxation of C-2 over C-3 along with widening of the left transverse foramen. Due to an abnormally appearing left vertebral artery (VA) on CT angiography, the patient underwent conventional angiography, which revealed a complex AVF stemming from the left VA at the level of C-2 with dilated posterior cervical veins and a large venous varix. Given the radiographic evidence of bone remodeling and the chronicity of the AVF, it is believed that the C-2 vertebra was weakened over time by the pulsatile and compressive force of the vascular malformation eventually leading to fracture with minimal stress. Coil embolization of the AVF was performed followed by surgical fixation of C-1 to C-4. This case highlights the importance of investigating an underlying disease process in patients who present with significant spinal fractures in the absence of trauma.