Complications in minimally invasive percutaneous fixation of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures and tumors.

PURPOSE: We propose to evaluate the complication rate in minimally invasive stabilization (MIS) for spine fractures and tumors, as a common alternative to open fusion and conservative treatment.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2010, 187 patients were treated by minimally invasive percutaneous fixation in 133 traumatic fractures and 54 primitive and/or secondary spine tumors. Complications were classified, according to the period of onset as intraoperative and postoperative, and according to the severity, as major and minor.

RESULTS

A total of 15 complications (8 %) were recorded: 5 intraoperative (3 %), 6 early postoperative (3 %) and 4 late postoperative (2 %); 6 were minor complications (3 %) and 9 were major complications (5 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive stabilization of selected spine pathologies appears to be a safe technique with low complication rate and high patient satisfaction. MIS reduces hospitalization and allows a fast functional recovery improving the quality of life.