S Y M P O S I U M : C O M P L I C A T I O N S O F S P I N E S U R G E R Y

Complications of Spine Surgery

Editorial Comment

Kristen E. Radcliff MD, Alexander Vaccaro MD, PhD

Published online: 22 February 2012

� The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons1 2012

Spine surgery, like other methods of invasive intervention,

has specific common, and not so common, complications

that may occur in the normal course of treatment. Any

physician so treating a problem must be cognizant of the

anticipated course subsequent to his or her management to

understand when recovery fails to proceed normally. Such

an acute awareness of treatment adverse events or com-

plications will allow institution of appropriate remedial

measures necessary for the best patient care and ultimately

outcomes. As surgeons, we believe it is important to

acknowledge and study our failures. This symposium

reports original research on the potential complications of

spine surgery to inform the orthopaedic and neurosurgical

communities about possible best practices.

The articles in this symposium encompass the spectrum

of complications from diagnosis to surgical technique to

postoperative healing. Complication rate and common

complications are explored in basic science and clinical

research settings. We believe study of complications is

essential to improving the ultimate outcome of spine care.

We hope readers enjoy this symposium.

Fig. 1 Dr. Radcliff is shown.

Fig. 2 Dr. Vaccaro is shown.

All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical
Orthopaedics and Related Research editors and board members are
on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.

K. E. Radcliff, A. Vaccaro

Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University,

925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

K. E. Radcliff (&)
2500 English Creek Avenue, Egg Harbor

Township, NJ 08402, USA

e-mail: radcliffk@gmail.com

123

Clin Orthop Relat Res (2012) 470:1601

DOI 10.1007/s11999-012-2281-z

Clinical Orthopaedics
and Related Research®
A Publication of  The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®


	Complications of Spine Surgery: Editorial Comment