The migration of a broken luque rod: a case report

An exceedingly rare complication of Luque segmental spinal instrumentation in spinal fractures is described. A patient was treated for fractures of the eighth and ninth thoracic vertebra associated with traumatic paraplegia using Luque segmental spinal instrumentation. Ten years postoperatively, broken rods and sublaminar wires were found. One of the broken rods migrated caudad penetrating the sacrum and protruding into the pelvic cavity. The rod had projected into the rectum, and was extracted through the wall of the rectum and the anus. This case report emphasizes the importance of careful surgical technique and long-term follow up for patients who had undergone spinal instrumentation surgery.