ABSTRACT
Patients with injuries to the spinal column or cord present a unique challenge for spine surgeons, medical caregivers, and ancillary medical providers. The toll of such injury already poses a significant economic challenge to society, including hospitalization and rehabilitation costs as well as those costs related to lost employment and productivity (18). Despite increasing education and awareness among healthcare workers, certain avoidable and unavoidable complications exist that are unique to this patient population. Starting from the time of injury to definitive nonoperative and operative care, complications may occur that result in neurological deterioration and unfavorable outcomes. This chapter will focus on identifying complications that relate to the surgical management of patients with a spinal column or spinal cord injury.
