Dorsal Epidural Artery Pseudoaneurysm – An Unusual Complication after Posterior Instrumented Stabilisation

Abstract

Vascular complications during lumbar disc surgeries are a rare but fatal complication. Most commonly injured vessels during spinal surgeries include the aorta, common iliac vessels, and very rarely the lumbar arteries. The damage to a major vessel such as aorta and iliac artery present with acute symptoms requiring immediate surgical intervention, whereas small vessels such as lumbar segmental artery and its branches when injured may form arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm presenting at a later stage. We report a rare case of dorsal epidural artery pseudoaneurysm following lumbar discectomy and posterior instrumented stabilization presenting with progressive signs of neurological deficit due to dural sac compression and also emphasize the importance of its early diagnosis thus preventing fatal complications.