A Practical Guide to Avoiding and Managing Complications in Pediatric Spinal Deformity Surgery.

Despite recent research and improvements in spinal implants, complications remain frequent in patients who undergo pediatric spinal deformity surgery. Although the rate of neurologic injury after pediatric spinal deformity surgery is low, the rate of surgical site infection after pediatric spinal deformity surgery is high, particularly in patients who have neuromuscular scoliosis. Although symptomatic implant complications that require revision surgery are rare with the use of modern spinal fusion constructs, they are common in patients who have early-onset scoliosis. Patients who have perioperative respiratory or gastrointestinal complications benefit from early recognition and supportive treatment. The cause of perioperative complications in patients who undergo pediatric spinal deformity surgery often is multifactorial; therefore, surgeons should understand the numerous risk factors for and strategies for the prevention of pediatric spinal deformity surgery complications.