Successful Treatment of Internal Iliac Vein Rupture During Revisional Anterior Lumbar Spinal Surgery Using a Tack: Case Report

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case in which a tack was used to control bleeding due to a torn iliac vein during revisional anterior spine surgery. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: During anterior lumbar surgery, bleeding following a vascular injury is possible to control and reparable in most cases. During revisional anterior lumbar surgery, however, there are irreparable cases of bleeding as well. In some cases, it can threaten the patient's life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 56-year-old man suffered from potentially fatal bleeding following iliac vein rupture during revisional anterior lumbar surgery. Primary vascular closure was impossible due to severe adhesion. We attempted to stop the venous bleeding with a tack, as an alternative treatment. The potentially fatal bleeding was controlled and the patient's vital signs stabilized after hemostasis by the tack. RESULTS: Hemostasis using the tack saved the patient's life without any rebleeding. CONCLUSIONS: During revisional anterior lumbar surgery, bleeding following an iliac vein rupture can be controlled by a tack in cases that are irreparable due to severe adhesion.

The Effectiveness of Oral Corticosteroids for Management of Lumbar Radiating Pain: Randomized, Controlled Trial Study

BACKGROUND: Although both pregabalin and gabapentin are known to be useful for treating lumbar radiating pain and reducing the incidence of surgery, the oral corticosteroids sometimes offer a dramatic effect on severe radiating pain despite the lack of scientific evidence. METHODS: A total of 54 patients were enrolled among 703 patients who complained of lumbar radiating pain. Twenty patients who received an oral corticosteroid was classified as group A and 20 patients who received the control drugs (pregabalin or gabapentin) as group B. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Revised Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, lumbar radiating pain, objective patient satisfaction, and objective improvement of patients or physicians were assessed at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after medication. RESULTS: No difference in the sex ratio and age was observed between the groups (p = 0.70 and p = 0.13, respectively). Group A showed greater improvement in radiating pain after 2, 6, and 12 weeks than group B (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). No differences were observed between the groups in satisfaction at the beginning and 12 weeks after taking the medication (p = 0.062 and p = 0.061, respectively) and in objective improvement of patients and physicians (p = 0.657 and p = 0.748, respectively). Group A was less disabled and had greater physical health scores than group B (p = 0.014 and p = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Oral corticosteroids for the treatment of lumbar radiating pain can be more effective in pain relief than gabapentin or pregabalin. The satisfaction of patients and physicians with the drug and objective improvement status were not inferior to that with gabapentin or pregabalin.