Does conventional practice prevent occular complications in prone position spinal surgery?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurosurgery
• Surgical Safety

Background:

• Postoperative visual loss (POVL) after spinal surgery in the prone position is a significant concern.
• POVL can severely impact patient quality of life and lead to medico-legal issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence of ocular complications in patients undergoing spinal surgery in the prone position.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of perioperative preventative measures in mitigating these risks.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 181 consecutive spinal surgeries performed in the prone position.
• Inclusion of surgeries lasting over 2 hours.
• Documentation of all perioperative preventative measures implemented.

Main Results:

• Zero incidence (0%) of postoperative transient or permanent visual loss.
• Zero incidence (0%) of any other ocular complications observed.
• Perioperative preventative measures were found to be sufficient in preventing ocular complications.

Conclusions:

• Spinal surgery in the prone position can be performed with a significantly reduced risk of ocular complications.
• Implementing adequate perioperative precautionary measures is crucial for patient safety.
• Patients should be informed about the low risk of ocular complications when appropriate measures are taken.