Wrong-site spinal surgery is a rare but serious medical error—one that can result in devastating, lifelong consequences. To prevent these critical mistakes, Mayo Clinic has implemented a systemwide, “ironclad” process that applies to both surgical and nonsurgical spinal procedures, including minimally invasive interventions like selective nerve root blocks.
While approximately 90% of people have standard spinal segmentation, about 10% have anatomical variations that can alter the conventional numbering of spinal vertebrae. Some may have transitional vertebrae or an extra rib, leading to inconsistent labeling and increasing the risk of operating at the wrong spinal level.
At a system as large as the Mayo Clinic, encountering patients with unusual spinal anatomy is common. To address this, the Mayo Clinic uses a multidisciplinary team approach. For each case, a team may include neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, neuroradiologists, neurologists, and pain-medicine providers. All specialists follow a unified imaging and labeling protocol, beginning with a numbered spine localizer image that is archived for reference throughout treatment.
Mayo Clinic extends this attention to imaging from outside providers. Any scans that patients bring with them are relabeled according to the Mayo Clinic’s standardized system to ensure continuity and accuracy.
During surgery, the Mayo Clinic takes additional precautions beyond the standard presurgical timeout. An intraoperative timeout is also performed, allowing the surgical team to double-check anatomical landmarks and procedural plans. In more complex situations—such as procedures involving patients with obesity—surgeons may use intraoperative CT imaging to eliminate any guesswork and confirm precise surgical positioning.
Consistent communication and collaboration are core to Mayo Clinic’s process. Specialists meet regularly in multidisciplinary spinal conferences to review complex or high-risk cases and uphold safety standards.
What Other Wrong-Site Spinal Surgeries Can Occur?
Operating at the wrong spinal level is the most common type of wrong-site error, but it’s not the only kind. Other errors include:
- Wrong Side: Operating on the correct vertebra but the incorrect side of the spine, which can be especially harmful in nerve root or joint procedures.
- Wrong Spinal Region: Treating the incorrect region—such as the cervical spine instead of the lumbar—leaves the actual condition unaddressed.
- Wrong Procedure, Correct Site: Performing the wrong surgical intervention at the correct site, such as doing a fusion instead of a decompression.
- Wrong Patient: A catastrophic error that can occur if identity verification protocols fail.
What Are the Consequences of Wrong-Site Spinal Surgery?
Though rare, wrong-site spinal surgeries can have life-changing consequences. Patients may suffer from permanent nerve damage, chronic pain, loss of mobility, or even paralysis. Additionally, the original medical condition often remains untreated, requiring further surgeries and exposing the patient to more physical and emotional trauma.
These errors often result from breakdowns in safety protocols. When that happens, victims may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. A knowledgeable Washington, D.C. medical malpractice lawyer—especially one who is also a licensed physician like Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D.—can help investigate what went wrong and pursue accountability.
Washington, D.C. Medical Malpractice Lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates Fight for Victims of Wrong-Site Surgeries
Recovering from spinal surgery is hard enough. Discovering that your surgeon operated on the wrong site can be devastating. If you or a loved one experienced a wrong-site spinal procedure, the Washington, D.C. medical malpractice lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates can help. Call 202-223-4488 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Washington, D.C., we proudly serve clients throughout the surrounding areas, including Northern Virginia and Maryland.
