Abstract: Objective To investigate severe complications of inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) applying for preventing pulmonary embolism after spinal cord injury. Methods From December 2014 to July 2015, 95 patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in our hospital were retrospected. Results Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) appeared in 23 cases, in which 15 cases placed IVCF. All patients accepted anticoagulant therapy, except 10 cases with contraindication. 3 cases had severe complication, in which 2 cases had comprehensive DVT distal to IVCF, with both lower limbs severe swelling, acute renal inadequacy and hypertension; 1 case had continuous hyperpyrexia. Conclusion Although the IVCF placement was widely used in acute SCI for preventing pulmonary embolism in patients with DVT, however, the selection of IVCF and complication prevention should be taken into account.

Key words: spinal cord injury, deep venous thrombosis, inferior vena cava filter, complication