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Metallosis with spinal implant loosening after spinal instrumentation: A case report – Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

The article discusses a case of spinal metallosis, a rare complication that occurs after spinal instrumentation. Spinal metallosis involves an inflammatory response to metal implants, leading to the development of granulomatous tissue. The case presented involves a 78-year-old woman who experienced a recurrence of back pain five years after lumbar spine surgery. Radiographs revealed hardware loosening, and magnetic resonance imaging showed adjacent segment disease. During revision surgery, evidence of metallosis was found. The article emphasizes the importance of identifying metallosis and promptly treating symptomatic implant loosening. Blood metal concentrations associated with metallosis are not yet established, making the diagnosis primarily based on intraoperative and histopathological findings. The presence of metallosis after spinal instrumentation may suggest underlying issues such as pseudarthrosis, sagittal balance problems, infection, or cross-threading of set screws

Summarised by Mr Mo Akmal – Lead Spinal Surgeon
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Published article

CONCLUSION: Spinal metallosis can present several years after instrumentation. Radiography and computed tomography may demonstrate hardware loosening secondary to metallosis. Blood metal concentrations associated with spinal metallosis have yet to be established. Hence, metallosis is still an intraoperative and histopathological diagnosis. The presence of metallosis after spinal instrumentation likely indicates a more complex underlying problem: Pseudarthrosis, failure to address sagittal…

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World J Orthop. 2023 Aug 18;14(8):651-661. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v14.i8.651. eCollection 2023 Aug 18.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Spinal metallosis is a rare complication following spinal instrumentation whereby an inflammatory response to the metal implants results in the development of granulomatous tissue.CASE SUMMARY: We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman who had recurrence of back pain 5 years after lumbar,

World J Orthop. 2023 Aug 18;14(8):651-661. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v14.i8.651. eCollection 2023 Aug 18.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Spinal metallosis is a rare complication following spinal instrumentation whereby an inflammatory response to the metal implants results in the development of granulomatous tissue.

CASE SUMMARY: We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman who had recurrence of back pain 5 years after lumbar spine posterior decompression and instrumented fusion. Lumbar spine radiographs showed hardware loosening and magnetic resonance imaging showed adjacent segment disease. Revision surgery revealed evidence of metallosis intraoperatively.

CONCLUSION: Spinal metallosis can present several years after instrumentation. Radiography and computed tomography may demonstrate hardware loosening secondary to metallosis. Blood metal concentrations associated with spinal metallosis have yet to be established. Hence, metallosis is still an intraoperative and histopathological diagnosis. The presence of metallosis after spinal instrumentation likely indicates a more complex underlying problem: Pseudarthrosis, failure to address sagittal balance, infection, and cross-threading of set screws. Hence, identifying metallosis is important, but initiating treatment promptly for symptomatic implant loosening is of greater paramount.

PMID:37662668 | PMC:PMC10473909 | DOI:10.5312/wjo.v14.i8.651

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Metallosis with spinal implant loosening after spinal instrumentation: A case report

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World J Orthop. 2023 Aug 18;14(8):651-661. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v14.i8.651. eCollection 2023 Aug 18.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Spinal metallosis is a rare complication following spinal instrumentation whereby an inflammatory response to the metal implants results in the development of granulomatous tissue.CASE SUMMARY: We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman who had recurrence of back pain 5 years after lumbar

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