Transpedicular bone grafts misplaced into the spinal canal

After open reduction of a burst fracture of L1, transpedicular bone grafting of the fractured vertebral body was performed. Bone grafts accidentally slipped into the spinal canal through the damaged medial wall of the pedicle. No adverse effects were noted clinically, but this case illustrates that transpedicular bone grafting is a potentially dangerous procedure. Computed tomography after 1 year showed complete resorption of the intraspinal bone grafts.