RESEARCH ARTICLE


Spinal Surgery in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Unsatisfactory Results, Failure and Disappointment



G. Sapkas1, V. Lykomitros2, K. Soultanis1, E.C. Papadopoulos2, M. Papadakis*, 2
1 Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece
2 Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaloniki, Greece


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
18
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 1146
Abstract HTML Views: 383
PDF Downloads: 318
Total Views/Downloads: 1847
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 636
Abstract HTML Views: 263
PDF Downloads: 234
Total Views/Downloads: 1133



Creative Commons License
© Sapkas et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/) which permits unrestrictive use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the 2nd Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece; Tel: +36942489890; E-mail: michalpap@gmail.com


Abstract

Previous studies on spinal surgery in PD patients report an exceptionally high rate of complications. Failure and re -operation are frequent outcomes. This is a retrospective case series with the aim of establishing the rate of complications in patients with concomitant Parkinson’s disease.

Ten patients were subjected to spinal surgery from 2005 to 2009. The indications and type of operation varied. Cases of Failed Back Surgery and re-operation were sought. Follow – up was between 6 – 42 months. All 10 patients presented some clinical or radiological complication. The most common complications were screw pull – out and progressive spinal deformity. Re – operations were performed in 5 patients, while clinical and radiological results were poor in the majority of cases. Patients with Parkinson’s disease have a very high complication rate and often have to undergo revision surgery. This particular group of patients should be informed of the increased risk of failure and be closely followed – up on a regular basis.

Keywords: Complications, failed back surgery, Parkinson’s disease, revision surgery..