Evaluation of spinal instrumentation following organ transplantation: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Aim: Improvements in transplantation medicine and surgery, anesthesiology, and postoperative care paved the way for successful procedures for transplant patients. The aim of the present study is to describe the results of surgical correction for spinal deformities in patients who underwent several types of organ transplantation. Methods: The study group consisted of ten patients with a history of organ transplantation who require spinal surgery with different etiologies. Seven (70%), two (20%) and one (10%) patient had lung, liver, and lung transplantations, respectively. The etiology for spinal surgery was spinal stenosis in six (60%), vertebra fracture in three (30%), and vertebral metastasis in one (10%) patient. Preintra-and postoperative radiological, clinical, and functional outcomes were noted. Results: The mean age of the patients was 57.1 (8.9) years, ranging between 38-62 years. Six of the patients were male, and four were female. Surgery time following the transplant surgery was 15.6 (2.1) months. The blood requirement in the operating room was 5.6 (0.8) units of erythrocyte suspension. Hospital length of stay was 8.5 (5.6) days following the spinal instrumentation surgery. Two patients had mild complications in the postoperative period. The preoperative VAS score significantly decreased from 6.4 (0.8) to 3.1 (1.6) after the surgery (P<0.001). Conclusions: Posterior spinal instrumentation on transplanted patients can be an effective treatment which improves the life quality of the patients. A multidisciplinary approach with an experienced team is highly required.