Thoracic paraplegia after lumbar spinal surgery.

Two cases of thoracic level paraplegia after lumbar spinal surgery were retrospectively reviewed after 1 year of follow-up. Charts and perioperative records were reviewed in an effort to determine the possible etiology of this rare and devastating complication. We were unable to find any reports in the English-language literature regarding thoracic-level paraplegia in an isolated lumbar procedure (in the absence of preexisting structural instability or thoracic level lesion).