Medical complications in scoliosis surgery

Several medical complications can occur after scoliosis surgery in children and adolescents. They include the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic h ormone; pancreatitis; cholelithiasis; superior mesenteric artery syndrome; ileus; pnemothorax; hemothorax; chylothorax; and fat embolism. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the various con ditions that occur after correction of spinal deformity. Attention is given to recent literature specifically related to scoliosis surgery. Surgical c omplications like urinary tract infection, wound infection, and hardware fa ilure Will not be addressed. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.