Extrinsic erosion of the descending aorta by a vertebral fixator

• Published in: Texas Heart Institute journal Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 136 - 139
• Main Authors: SOKOLIC, J, SOSA, T, UGLJEN, R, BIOCINA, B, SIMUNIC, S, SLOBODNJAK, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Houston, TX Texas Heart Institute 1991
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Case Reports; Diseases of the aorta; Medical sciences; Dissecting aneurysm; Thoracic aorta; Case study; Human; Orthopedic surgery; Fixation; Scoliosis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Cardiovascular disease; Complication; Aortic disease
• ISSN: 0730-2347; 1526-6702

We report a rare case in which mechanical extrinsic erosion of the descending thoracic aorta resulted in perforation and periaortic hematoma formation in a 16-year-old girl. Five months before admission to our clinic, the patient had undergone surgical spondylosyndesis with inner vertebral fixation, for the correction of scoliosis. Subsequently, a screw on the fixator became loose, eroding and eventually perforating the wall of the descending aorta. The resultant lesion was at first misdiagnosed as a paravertebral abscess; extrinsic perforation of the descending aorta was suspected prior to operation, but was confirmed only upon surgical exploration. After evacuation of the hematoma, the 1.5-cm aortic perforation was closed directly with continuous sutures. Seven months later, the patient continues to do well.