[Prevention of postoperative complications in vertebro-spinal cord pathology]

In 352 patients, affected by vertebral-medullary pathology, we evaluated the role played by the prevention or by the treatment of postoperative complications. We also evaluated their influence on the clinical outcome and neurological recovery. In every case we recorded a scrupulous post-operative neurological monitoring of the eventual complications, on the basis of the type, gravity and duration. From our results it appears that the complications, mostly secondary to infectious diseases, have an influence on the clinical and neurological recovery. We highlight the importance of an adequate nutritive management to prevent the complications, specifically those secondary to infectious diseases and cutaneous lesions.