Colon perforation caused by migration of a bone graft following a posterior lumbosacral interbody fusion operation: case report.

METHODS

This is a case report.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose was to report a patient whose migrated L4-S1 femur graft led to perforation of the cecum.

BACKGROUND

Autograft bone use during spinal surgery is quite commonplace nowadays. With time due to infection, technical mishaps, or disease recurrence, these autografts may break off their points of attachments and with their subsequent migration lead to serious complications.

METHODS

The patient who had the history of a stabilization operation performed for his L5-S1 spondylolisthesis grade III by way of a L4-L5, S1 transpedicular rod screw presented with high fever and abdominal tenderness. The patient underwent a laparatomy and a perforation on the medial aspect of the cecum, and a femur graft extending into the cecum through the perforation was found.

RESULTS

The graft was removed and the cecum was primarily repaired. The patient was discharged on the 15th postoperative day after an uneventful postoperative course.

CONCLUSIONS

We have presented a case whose migrated L4-S1 femur graft led to perforation of the cecum. We recommend that frequent radiologic follow-up should be done in patients at risk to show complications early enough to avert severe consequences.