Fatal Cardiac Tamponade Associated With Posterior Spinal Instrumentation: A Case Report

Study Design. Case report of a fatal complication of pedicle screw instrumentation and review of the literature. Objective. To describe the clinical and postmortem findings in a 35‐year‐old man who sustained a T11 burst fracture that was managed by transpedicular posterior instrumentation and who died 12 days after surgery of cardiac tamponade caused by a prick injury of the right coronary artery. Summary of Background Data. Posterior pedicle screw instrumentation is considered a safe and effective method for stabilizing a spinal motion segment. Nevertheless, there are several rare but significant complications that may occur. This is the first report of a heart tamponade after transpedicular screw insertion. Methods. A 35‐year‐old man was treated for a T11 burst fracture with posterior transpedicular stabilization. The surgery was uncomplicated. Results. Twelve days after the intervention, the patient died of cardiogenic shock. Postmortem examination showed a heart tamponade of 350 mL blood originating in a prick injury of the right coronary artery. Histologic findings showed evidence that the injury was caused during surgery by a Kirschner wire. Conclusion. There are numerous possible intraoperative complications in posterior pedicle screw fixation, such as nerve root and spinal cord injuries. This case of a fatal heart tamponade after transpedicular screw insertion is rare. It shows that the surgeon must be aware of potential risks associated with such a procedure and have a comprehensive three‐dimensional understanding of the anatomic structures involved.