[Thromboembolic complications in surgery of the spine in children and adolescents].

A retrospective analysis by 34 surgical teams from 1981 to 1990 revealed 15 cases of deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb and one pulmonary embolism in children aged 16 or less. The various prophylactic methods used by the different teams led us to undertake a prospective study the aim of which was to determine the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in teenager rachis surgery. The purpose of our study was to recognize congenital or acquired factors predisposing to thrombosis and to detect without delay any deep vein thrombosis by ultrasound examination and doppler study. The preliminary results were obtained in 19 teenagers.