BACKGROUND: In the postoperative period of posterior spinal surgery, surgeons usually encounter a wide spectrum of complications, including retained surgical sponge, gossypiboma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of case records of eight patients diagnosed with gossypiboma with emphasis on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. RESULTS: All the eight patients presented with low back pain and/or symptoms of infection, such as draining from the incision site, fever, and tenderness. The diagnosis was confirmed by the imaging findings on MRI with gadolinium enhancement. CONCLUSION: Retained paravertebral surgical sponges are seldom reported due to medicolegal implications. Awareness of this complication among neurosurgeons and radiologists is essential to avoid unnecessary morbidity.
BACKGROUND: In the postoperative period of posterior spinal surgery, surgeons usually encounter a wide spectrum of complications, including retained surgical sponge, gossypiboma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of case records of eight patients diagnosed with gossypiboma with emphasis on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. RESULTS: All the eight patients presented with low back pain and/or symptoms of infection, such as draining from the incision site, fever, and tenderness. The diagnosis was confirmed by the imaging findings on MRI with gadolinium enhancement. CONCLUSION: Retained paravertebral surgical sponges are seldom reported due to medicolegal implications. Awareness of this complication among neurosurgeons and radiologists is essential to avoid unnecessary morbidity.