L. Hackenberg et al., Occlusion of the left common iliac artery and consecutive thromboembolism of the left popliteal artery following anterior lumbar interbody fusion, J SPINAL D, 14(4), 2001, pp. 365-368
We report on a case of occlusion of the left common iliac artery due to art
eriosclerosis and consecutive thrombotic occlusion of the left popliteal ar
tery in a 52-year-old man following anterior retroperitoneal interbody fusi
on of L4-S1. Initial symptoms included leg pain and numbness of the lateral
shank, which were thought to be a result of lumbar nerve root irritation f
rom surgery. Diagnosis was not made until 13 days after surgery, when motor
deficits were observed. Angiography showed occlusion of the left common il
iac artery and thromboembolism of the left popliteal artery. After thromboe
ndarterectomy of the common iliac artery and thrombectomy of the popliteal
artery, motor deficits of the left foot were resolved whereas symptoms of p
ain and sensory deficits continued. Spine surgeons should be aware of this
rare complication in cases of postoperative leg pain or of neurologic defic
its in the lower extremity after anterior lumbar interbody fusions.