Pseudoaneurysm of the thoracoabdominal aorta caused by a severe migration of an anterior spinal device.

Abstract

BACKGROUND CONTEXT:

Case report.

PURPOSE:

To describe the case of pseudoaneurysm of the thoracoabdominal aorta caused by the severe migration of an anterior spinal device 5 years after surgery.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING:

Case report.

METHODS:

A 70-year-old woman was referred to us because of migrated anterior spinal devices and a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracoabdominal aorta. This patient had undergone anterior corpectomy and spinal fusion from Th12 to L2 because of delayed palsy after a burst fracture using a smooth rod Kaneda device (SRK) with bioactive ceramic (apatite-wollastonite containing glass ceramic) at a local hospital. She had persistent low back pain after the surgery.

RESULTS:

Five years after the initial surgery, the patient was referred to us because of increasing of her low back pain and the migrated SRK devices shown on plain X-ray films. An enhanced computed tomography scan taken in our hospital clearly showed a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracoabdominal aorta surrounding the SRK devices. The pseudoaneurysm was resected, the aortic defect was repaired with an artificial patch, and the migrated SRK devices were removed.

CONCLUSIONS:

The pseudoaneurysm of the aorta can occur secondary to a migrated anterior spinal fixation device and can be successfully treated by revision anterior surgery with vascular repair and implant removal.

• Authors: Kosaku Higashino, Shinsuke Katoh, Koichi Sairyo, Yuichiro Goda, Toshinori Sakai, Takashi Kitaichi, Tetsuya Kitagawa, Natsuo Yasui
• Journal: The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society (Spine J) 2008 Jul-Aug Vol. 8 Issue 4 Pg. 696-9 ISSN: 1529-9430 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17662663 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Aneurysm, False (etiology, surgery)
• Aorta, Abdominal (injuries, surgery)
• Aorta, Thoracic (injuries, surgery)
• Female
• Foreign-Body Migration (complications)
• Humans
• Orthopedic Fixation Devices (adverse effects)
• Postoperative Complications (etiology)
• Reoperation
• Spinal Fusion (instrumentation)
• Treatment Outcome