Related Experiment Videos
Ureteral compression and obstruction by spine rods
1Department of Radiology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5200, USA.
Pediatric Radiology
|April 16, 1998
Summary
Spinal fixation hardware can compress the ureter, causing kidney swelling and function loss. This rare complication may necessitate kidney removal (nephrectomy).
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Spinal fixation hardware is used to correct spinal deformities and instability.
- Complications can arise from hardware placement, including adjacent tissue reaction.
Observation:
- A case of extrinsic ureteral compression by spinal fixation hardware and surrounding fibrosis is presented.
- This led to progressive obstructive hydronephrosis, characterized by kidney swelling due to urine backup.
Findings:
- The extrinsic compression significantly impaired renal function.
- The patient ultimately required a nephrectomy (surgical removal of the kidney) due to the severity of the damage.
Implications:
- Highlights a rare but serious complication of spinal fixation surgery.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering genitourinary complications in patients with spinal hardware.
- Suggests potential need for vigilant monitoring and early intervention in similar cases.