Study Points Out Risk Factors Linked to Blindness After Spine Surgery

A new study identifies six risk factors associated with blindness or partial blindness that can occur following major spine surgery: 1) male sex, 2) obesity, 3) use of a surgical frame that places the head lower than the heart, 4) length of the surgery, 5) amount of blood loss and 6) use of certain fluids that replace lost blood. The study will appear in the January 2012 issue of Anesthesiology.

Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) — which involves injury to the optic nerve located directly behind the eyeball — is a rare complication (with the highest incidence reported as one in 1,000 spine operations). But it is a devastating complication for patients, and a frustrating one for anesthesiologists, spine surgeons and ophthalmologists, as it is known to unexpectedly occur in even healthy patients of all ages. For more information, click here to read the full release.