Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41310855›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical case reports2025

Paraspinal compartment syndrome after minimally invasive thoracolumbar fixation: a case report.

Hongxing Zhang, Junjie Du, Tengfei Li, Zhihuang Zheng, Han Wang, Zhiqiang Chen, Tianqi Li, Bowen Xie, Yufei Chen, Deshui Yu and 2 more

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical case reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hongxing Zhang *Department of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Junjie Du *Department of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Tengfei Li *Department of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Zhihuang Zheng *Department of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Han WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Zhiqiang ChenDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Tianqi LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Bowen XieDepartment of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Yufei ChenDepartment of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China.
Deshui YuBeijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100035, China.
Fengyuan YangDivision of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, NW3 2PF, UK. fengyuan.yang.24@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-3725-2013
Ye PengDepartment of Orthopedics, Air Force Medical Center of PLA, Beijing, 100142, China. pengye1985@163.com.

Funding

Research Fund of the Army Logistics Priority of the PLA, China BKJ20J004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMinimally invasive spinal surgery has revolutionized the treatment of traumatic thoracolumbar compression fractures. However, rare and potentially serious complications, such as paraspinal compartment syndrome, may still occur. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old Chinese male soldier sustained a T12 compression fracture and underwent successful minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw fixation from T11 to L1. The initial postoperative course was uneventful. On postoperative day 16, he developed severe back pain, serous fluid discharge, and localized paraspinal swelling. This prompted readmission and emergency surgical debridement. Intraoperative findings revealed pale, avascular, and noncontractile paravertebral muscles bilaterally. Pathological examination confirmed skeletal muscle necrosis, establishing the diagnosis of thoracolumbar paravertebral myofascial compartment syndrome. Aggressive management with serial debridements, negative-pressure wound therapy, and appropriate antibiotic therapy led to complete wound healing and full recovery, allowing him to resume military training.

conclusionThis case underscores the critical importance of early recognition and prompt surgical intervention in managing paraspinal compartment syndrome. Even in minimally invasive spinal surgery, enhanced intraoperative measures and vigilant postoperative monitoring are necessary to prevent such rare but potentially devastating complications.

Indexed as

Compartment SyndromesFracture Fixation, InternalFractures, CompressionLumbar VertebraeMinimally Invasive Surgical ProceduresParaspinal MusclesPostoperative ComplicationsSpinal FracturesThoracic VertebraeDebridementHumansMaleMilitary PersonnelNegative-Pressure Wound TherapyPedicle ScrewsYoung AdultAvascular muscle necrosisCase reportMinimally invasive spine surgeryParaspinal compartment syndromePercutaneous pedicle screw fixationPostoperative wound complicationsSurgical debridementThoracolumbar compression fracture

Identifiers

PMID41310855
PMCPMC12751251

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.