Surgery
- CSF leakage: CSF leakage is not common after this surgery especially if the dural closure is watertight. Using a short-term prone position may decrease the risk of CSF leakage.
- Abscess recurrence: If there is adequate abscess drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy, the recurrence rate is low.
- Postoperative neurological damage: Neurological injury can occur during surgery, as is the case with any surgery involving the spinal cord.
- Retethering: The delayed complication of retethering may occur due to associated arachnoiditis, especially in infected cases. Most posttreatment MRI shows adhesion and tethering, but symptomatic tethered cord needs special attention.
Medical
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics may cause other organ damage, especially anemia, leukopenia, and renal problems.
- Dexamethasone: The risk of complications is low if dexamethasone is used short-term at low doses.