Fig. 26.

Hardware complication: a 24-year-old male presents with back pain 24 months after posterior segmental instrumentation and fusion of L3 to L5 for SCI because of a crush injury. a Antero-posterior radiograph shows disruption and distraction of the left fusion rod (white arrowhead). Failure of the right fusion rod is less conspicuous (white arrow). b The lateral radiograph demonstrates a break in the L5 pedicle screw (black arrow). Follow-up radiographs have to be carefully scrutinised for the presence of hardware failure and comparison with priors is essential