Lymphatic Injury After Vertebral Column Resection from a Posterior Approach for Spinal Deformity Correction: A Case...

We describe a case of lymphatic injury that occurred during a 2-level vertebral column resection for spinal deformity correction from a posterior-only approach. Large surgical drain volume output with laboratory findings of high levels of triglycerides and lymphocytes prompted conservative treatment with an elastic wrap bandage and a "no fat" diet. The patient responded to the treatment with no sequelae noted.

Lymphatic complications are rare in spine surgery. All reported cases are associated with anterior approaches. The lymphatic injury presented here demonstrates the potential for this complication to occur during posterior-only approaches as well.