Potential wrong-level surgery for an intra-dural thoracic spinal tumour: the importance of optimum imaging and consistency in the direction in which the level is determined

Abstract

The spectre of wrong-level surgery has many a spinal surgeon double-checking the spinal level at which an operation is being carried out especially in the thoracic spine, in the absence of abnormal-looking vertebrae which could help to identify the intended level. Getting the level wrong is easily done if there is an unusual number of vertebrae or if the direction of the count digresses from the imaging available.

KEYWORDS:

• Intradural
• spinal surgery
• wrong level