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Review Case Reports
Urinary bladder dysfunction following anterior lumbosacral spine fusion: case report and review of the literature.
- A A Faraj, J K Webb, and R J Lemberger.
- Centre of Spinal Studies and Surgery, University Hospital, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.
- Eur Spine J. 1996 Jan 1; 5 (2): 121-4.
AbstractA 34-year-old woman suffering from chronic degenerative low back pain involving L5-S1 disc space, refractory to conservative treatment, underwent spinal fusion. A combined instrumented posterolateral, followed by anterior, interbody allograft fusion through a left retroperitoneal approach was performed. Postoperatively, the patient was unable to evacuate her bladder and control her micturition. Anal tone and sensation were intact. A self-catheterisation regime was instituted with a diagnosis of parasympathetic nerve injury during the anterior spinal fusion. After a period of 3 months, the patient regained control of urination. We report this case to highlight the importance of protecting the parasympathetic presacral nerve during L5-S1 anterior interbody fusion, as injury to this nerve affects urinary evacuation.
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