A rare cause of postoperative paraplegia in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Study Design: A case report.

Objective: To present a patient who underwent a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion who postoperatively developed paraplegia as a rare complication of a Kirschner wire (K-wire).

Summary Of Background Data: The few complications of K-wires that have been reported include, dural tears and damage to intra-abdominal structures.

Methods: A case report of a rare complication of a K-wire is reported and the relevant literature was then reviewed.

Results: An 85-year-old female with an anterolisthesis at L4-L5 underwent a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Postoperatively she developed paraplegia. A subdural hematoma from T12 to the sacrum was found and evacuated. It is proposed that this rare complication is a result of a K-wire.

Conclusion: Care must be taken with the use of K-wires and additional measures should be carried out such as the marking of its position and radiological confirmation of depth.

Level Of Evidence: 5.