BACKGROUND: Baastrup's Syndrome is a condition that occurs when there is 
abnormal contact between two adjacent spinous processes resulting in back pain. 
An alteration in lumbar spinal alignment and/or adjacent segment compensatory 
motion is thought to be potential causative factors. The objective of this study 
was to present a case series of what appears to be iatrogenic Baastrup's 
Syndrome as a mid-to-late term complication following anterior lumbar interbody 
surgery.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients undergoing 
anterior lumbar surgery for either fusion or disc replacement to determine the 
prevalence of Baastrup's Syndrome.
RESULTS: Over a 12-year period, 855 patients who had undergone an anterior 
approach for lumbar spine surgery were identified. Of them 8 patients with 
evidence of Baastrup's Syndrome were found; this demonstrated a prevalence of 
0.9%. Diagnostic injection was a helpful clinical tool in confirming the 
diagnosis of iatrogenic Baastrup's Syndrome. The partial removal of the 
impinging spinous processes resulted in excellent clinical relief.
CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic Baastrup's Syndrome may be an iatrogenic result of 
anterior lumbar surgery in small group of patients. Spinous process excision is 
a suggested treatment option. Further studies are necessary to explore the above 
phenomenon. This study is a Level 3 retrospective case series.