With any surgery, there is a risk of complications. Surgery performed near the spine and spinal cord is a delicate procedure that can be especially risky, according to SciaticPainTreatment.com. Complications after back surgery can range from mild to severe in nature, so it is important to consider all of the risks involved with the surgery before deciding if it is the best option for treatment.
Anesthesia Complications
People who have back surgery may suffer complications from anesthesia, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. The vast majority of surgical procedures require some type of anesthesia before surgery. The purpose of anesthesia is to numb the person from pain and discomfort during surgery. Most spinal operations require general anesthesia, a type of anesthesia that puts the individual completely asleep during the surgical procedure. The medications are usually given through intravenous lines while special machines provide oxygen, monitor vital signs and alert the anesthesiologist to any problems during surgery. A small number of people may have problems with general anesthesia due to reactions to the drugs used or problems arising from other medical conditions.
Thrombophlebitis
Some people may develop a common condition called thrombophlebitis, or deep venous thrombosis, after surgery. Thrombophlebitis occurs when blood clots form inside one or more of the veins, typically the legs, according to GeorgiaHealthInfo.gov. When blood clots form in the large veins of the calf, they may continue to grow, extending up into the veins of the thigh and into the veins of the pelvis. Thrombophlebitis typically occurs when the clotting process is triggered as the body tries to stop the bleeding after surgery, when blood vessels around the surgical site get injured as a result of the normal tugging and pulling associated surgical procedures or when a vein becomes inflamed as a result of irritation from an intravenous needle or infection near a vein. This condition can cause tenderness and pain in the tissue surrounding the affected vein.
Infections
Infections can occur after back surgery. Infections occur in less than 1 percent of spinal surgeries, according to the All About Back and Neck Pain website. Infection can occur in the skin, or it may spread into the deeper levels of the surgical wound. Any procedure that uses bone grafts from a cadaver or hardware to fuse the back together after spinal surgery will have a greater chance of infection. If a surgical wound becomes red, hot, swollen or oozes yellow liquid, it may be a sign that the wound is infected. When infection enters the spinal canal, it can cause death. Seek medical attention if the surgical wounds appear to be infected.
Sexual Dysfunction
A possible complication of back surgery is sexual dysfunction, according to All About Neck and Back Pain. The spinal cord and the surrounding spinal nerves transmit signals to the rest of the body so that it can function and feel sensation. When the spinal cord, the nerves surrounding the spinal cord or the nerves connected to the pelvic region become damaged during back surgery, a man may be unable to maintain an erection.
