[Complications in surgical management of spinal injuries]

Operative treatment of spinal injuries requires an accurate surgical technique and biochemical know-how to avoid complications due to mistakes in device handling, operative technique, and indication. Device failures are caused by loosening of locking clamps or fracture of Schanz screws, followed by loss of angle stability and early loss of reduction. Maldisplacement of pedicle screws may involve irritation of neurovascular structures or loss of correction as well as insufficient transpedicular bone reduction and bone grafting. In burst fractures with destruction of the vertebral body and loose canal fragments, the posterior approach is less efficient than a combined procedure.