Complications and difficulties in treatment of degenerative disc disease in lumbar spine with interspinous distractor

Research objective. Retrospective study on patients treated with implantation of interspinous distractor. Aim. To present the difficulties and complications that occurred during treatment with an interspinous distractor InsWing and Coflex. Material. 36 patients with various types of complications from group of 160 operated during 2007- 2010 in our Hospital Results. Patients were divided into four main groups: 1) Difficulties during implantation of interspinous distractor occurred in 12 patients, of which - in 5 were related to anatomical abnormalities of spinous process, in 4 to aplasia of spinous process L5, In 3 too small interspinous space. 2) intraoperative complications occurred in 5 patients, of which – in 2 occured fracture of spinous process, In 2 rupture of supraspinous ligemant, in 1 violation of dura mater. 3) Early complication in the form of delayed healing was observed in 4 patients, 4) Late complications were noticed in 15 patients and it was – in 4 patients dislocation of an implant, in 2 rupture of supraspinous ligament, in 3 fracture of spinous process, in 1 spondylolysis, in 5 lack of improovement of the pain after surgery. Conlucions. Surgical treatment of lumbar spine disc disease with interspinous distractor is minimal invasive, safe, effective, charged with low risk of complications. Additionally, in case of failure, it does not close the possibility of treatment with other surgical methods.