Transient bilateral post-operative visual loss in spinal surgery

Nasir A. Quraishi, Jean-Paul Wolinsky, Ziya L. Gokaslan

December 2011, Volume 21, Issue 4, pp 495 - 498 Case Report Read Full Article

First Online: 15 December 2011

Background

Post-operative visual loss (POVL) following spinal surgery is a rare but devastating complication. Although a number of intra-operative and post-operative factors have been implicated, the exact etiology may still remain unclear.

Purpose

To report a unique case of transient bilateral POVL in a patient who had undergone lumbar surgery in the prone position.

Study design/setting

This patient was followed up prospectively for 1 year.

Methods

Prospective follow-up of a single patient following spinal surgery, who developed transient bilateral POVL.

Results

This patient’s visual loss improved within 48 h.

Conclusion

This is the only documented case of POVL to have resolved completely within 48 h.

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