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European Spine Journal
Published in: European Spine Journal 5/2016

01-05-2016 | Review Article

Spinal metallosis: a systematic review

Authors: Yoni Goldenberg, Jin W. Tee, Cesar M. Salinas-La Rosa, Michael Murphy

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 5/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

To document a rarely reported complication associated with spinal instrumentation and to evaluate the current literature on spinal metallosis and spinal metalloma.

Methods

A local case report is presented. EBSCOhost, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were used to conduct a systematic review for articles describing spinal metallosis and spinal metalloma.

Results

A total of 836 articles were identified using the terms “metalloma” or “metallosis”. Exclusion of arthroplasty-related abstracts retrieved 46 articles of which 3 full text articles presenting spinal metalloma as a causative pathological finding responsible for neurological signs and symptoms in patients with previous spinal fusion instrumentation were reviewed. Our case is the first described with titanium-composed posterior instrumentation and fifth reported, demonstrating the phenomena of neurological symptoms and signs attributed directly to neural tissue compression by spinal metalloma after spinal instrumentation.

Conclusion

Spinal metallosis can present weeks to years after spinal instrumentation surgery and is a potential cause of neural compression. This process appears to be independent of the instrument composition as metallosis has now been demonstrated in both titanium and stainless steel constructs.
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Metadata
Title
Spinal metallosis: a systematic review
Authors
Yoni Goldenberg
Jin W. Tee
Cesar M. Salinas-La Rosa
Michael Murphy
Publication date
01-05-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Spine Journal / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-015-4347-6

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