Risks

Risks & complications

Every operation carries some risk. Below are complications worth understanding, alongside estimated ranges reported in medical literature.

These percentages are estimates, not predictions

The figures shown on each card are estimated ranges reported in medical literature — they are not a prediction of your personal risk. Individual risk varies based on the type of procedure, your age, overall health, previous spine surgery, smoking, diabetes, the complexity of the operation, and other factors. Reported rates also differ between studies because research populations differ. Discuss your own risk with your surgeon.

Infection

~1–3%

Wound and deep infections can occur after any surgery. Published series report rates near 1% for lumbar decompression and roughly 2–4% for instrumented fusion, though reported figures vary by study population. Diabetes, smoking, obesity, and prior surgery are commonly associated with higher risk. Most infections are treated with antibiotics and, in some cases, a washout procedure.

Blood clots (DVT / PE)

~1–2%

Clots can form in leg veins (DVT) and can travel to the lungs (PE). Reported rates after lumbar surgery vary, with many studies describing figures in the range of roughly 1–2%. Early walking, compression stockings, and sometimes blood thinners are commonly used to reduce this risk.

Nerve injury

~1–2%

The nerves lie very close to where the surgeon works. Most nerve symptoms after surgery reflect temporary irritation. Lasting injury causing new weakness or numbness is uncommon; reported rates vary considerably by procedure and study, often described in the range of roughly 1–2%.

Dural tear / spinal fluid leak

~3–5%

The thin sac that holds spinal fluid can tear during surgery, and reported rates are higher in revision operations where scar tissue is present. A tear is usually repaired during the same operation with a stitch or patch, and many patients have no long-term problems.

Failed back surgery syndrome

varies

This is a term for ongoing pain after spine surgery despite a technically successful operation. Reported frequency varies widely across studies. It is more often described when patient selection is poor, when expectations are unrealistic, or when back pain rather than nerve pain was the main symptom.

Adjacent segment disease

~2–4% per year (fusion)

After a fusion, the levels above and below may handle more load. Over years, those segments can wear and become painful or pinch nerves. Published estimates commonly describe symptomatic adjacent-level problems in roughly 2–4% of fusion patients per year, with a smaller share eventually undergoing additional surgery. Estimates differ substantially between studies.

Revision surgery

~5–15% over 10 years

Some patients require a second spine operation, either for a problem at the same level (such as recurrent disc herniation or a hardware issue) or at a nearby level. Reported long-term rates span a wide range and depend heavily on the original procedure and patient factors.