Significant Risks of Spinal Surgery

Risks of Surgery

What are the common risks associated with spinal surgery?

Any type of surgery has significant risks. The risks include:

• Infection

• Bleeding

• Nerve Damage

• Paralysis

• Bowel/Bladder or Sexual Dysfunction

• Need to re-operate

• Worsening of Symptoms

• Medical Complications including Death

Depending on the extensiveness of the surgery and the patient’s previous medical history, the above risks can be minimal or significant.

The risks may be so significant that your surgeon would not offer certain types of surgeries regardless of the patient’s symptoms. The type of surgery and risks involved are the key subjects that surgeon’s commonly discuss with the patients and need to be individualized.