| Complication | Leading To | Odds |
| Nerve Root Injury | Pain/weakness/numbness in the arm / leg. The impairment may be temporary or permanent. | 1 in 60 |
| Damage to the nerves supplying the bladder (cauda equina syndrome) | No control or reduced control passing urine or faeces. Weakness and/or numbness in the legs. | 1 in 100 |
| Tear of the lining of spinal canal (dura) | Headache and a leaky wound. Occasionally a second operation to repair the tear (1 in 300). | 1 in 20 |
| Infection | Wound discharge, fever and chills. | 1 in 50 |
| Wound swelling (Seroma) | Fluid collection under the skin. Majority amenable to aspiration alone. Occasionally wound is re-opened to drain. | 1 in 60 |
| Recurrent disc herniation | Recurrence of pain requiring second operation either within a few days or at any time in the future. | 1 in 20 |
| Respiratory | Need for support of ventilation. Occasionally emergency operation to relieve the obstruction (1 in 50) | 1 in 30 |
| Oesophageal (gullet) injury | Difficulty with swallowing. Generally temporary. Re-operation to repair the oesophagus may be needed (1in 100) | 1 in 12 |
| Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury | Hoarse voice – temporary (common) or permanent (rare). | 1 in 20 |
| Vertebral artery injury | Bleeding | 1 in 300 |
| Failure of bone healing (non-union) | Persistent pain. Recurrence of deformity. | 1 in 6 |
| Bone graft donor site pain | Pain | 1 in 8 |
| Hardware breakage / loosening, Dislocation of implant | Pain. Recurrent deformity. Probable second operation to re-position or remove any implant. | 1 in 100 |
| Pedicle screw malposition | Weakness / numbness / bleeding / lung injury | 1 in 25 |
| Intestine (gut) blockage (ileus) | Distended abdomen, vomiting and constipation. | 1 in 100 |
| Retrograde ejaculation | Infertility. | 1 in 75 |
| Spinal cord injury | Loss of arm and leg function: Quadriplegia / Paraplegia – permanent. Quadriparesis / Paraparesis – may be temporary or permanent. | 1 in 250 |