The spine has 26 vertebral bones. Between each vertebra there is a sponge-like disc that acts as a shock absorber. When this disc bulges outside of the ring that contains it, the patient may have back and/or leg pain. Surgery to remove the herniated disc is a common procedure done by orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. Discectomy, or removal of the disc, can lead to various complications.
Spinal Cord Injury
Anytime there is an operation involving the spine, there is potential to injure the spinal cord. The disc often bulges into the spinal canal, and it is a very delicate operation to remove it safely. The spinal cord is made up of many nerve fibers that connect to the brain. The brain uses the spinal cord as a relay to send information to other body parts. Injury to the cord can cause interference in receiving these messages. Unintended injury can lead to weakness or paralysis.
The disc can also herniate and press against nerve roots exiting the spinal cord. Pressure on these nerves leads to radiculopathy, or pain in an extremity. Removing the disc that is pressing on a nerve root can provide relief from the pain. Injury to the nerve root, however, can leave a patient with motor weakness in the affected muscle. For instance, damage to particular nerves in the lower back can interfere with sexual function and cause continence, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Spinal Fluid Leak
Spinal fluid leaks occur due to inadvertent tears in the sac around the spinal cord, called the dura. The dura is a thin membrane-like encasement that contains all the nerve fibers of the cord. The nerve fibers are surrounded by cerebral spinal fluid that protects them and acts as an added shock absorber. The brain knows how much of this fluid to make every day in order to have just the right amount around the brain and in the spinal cord. A dural tear and subsequent leak upsets the normal pressure, and can cause severe headaches after spinal surgery, according to MayoClinic.com. Occasionally, a fluid leak can create a collection of fluid around the base of the spine, and cause back pain and weakness.
Persistent Pain
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the most common complication of spine surgery is persistent pain. Persistent pain occurs because the nerve may have been under pressure for an extended period of time and is now unable to recover, notes the Texas Spine and Joint Hospital. Scar tissue can build up around nerves and cause continued pain and weakness.
