Complications of anterior cervical discectomy without fusion in 450 consecutive XXXX .

@entity129 @entity1 @entity1512 @entity75 @entity1109 @entity602 @entity2737 @entity693 @entity179 @entity1576 @entity7181 @entity4820
The complications of anterior discectomy without fusion were analyzed on the basis of 450 consecutive cases treated surgically for @entity179 . There was no death related to the procedure. The most common complication was a worsening of the pre-existing @entity602 . This occurred in 3.3%, including one case with severe medullary contusion. @entity2737 developed in 1.6%. @entity1109 and wound haematoma, respectively, occurred in 1.3%; recurrent @entity129 , @entity4820 , and @entity1576 , respectively, in 1.1% of the cases. Epidural haematoma and instability of the cervical spine, respectively, occurred in 0.9%, nerve @entity75 and @entity1512 , respectively, in 0.4%. There was one case each (0.2%) with a @entity75 , @entity693 due to dural perforation, transient additional @entity602 , and @entity7181 . The results and the management of complications are discussed in relation to numerous previously published reports, including posterior procedures and anterior fusion techniques. Precise knowledge of all potential accidents and pitfalls related to the surgical procedure and of their aetiology may contribute to preventing failures. The rate of complications in this series has been reduced in the past years by better @entity1 selection, by paying more attention to correct positioning of the @entity1 during the operation, and by meticulous removal of all offending structures. Discectomy without interbody fusion is now considered to be a reasonably safe procedure with an acceptable operative morbidity and lack of mortality.
