Wrong-level spine surgery (WLSS) is a unique complication of spine surgery that is infrequent but continues to appear in practice. Mayer et al. reported that 68 % of spine surgeons had experienced a WLSS [1]. Mody et al. reported that 50 % of surgeons who responded to an anonymous survey admitted to performing at least one WLSS [2]. The Physician Insurers Association of America reported that the average cost of lawsuits because of WLSSs in 1985–1995 ranged from $48,087 to $76,167 [2]. WLSS can also be attributed to patient-related factors such as obesity, osteoporosis, anatomical variations, and hemorrhage; operating room factors such as the performance of the fluoroscopy machine in the operating room, the skill of the staff using the machine during surgery, the size of the operating table, and the permeability of fluoroscopy; and surgeon-related factors such as years of experience, emergency surgeries, busy schedules, relationships with assistants, unfamiliarity with the procedure, and other factors [3,4].

Various methods have been used to confirm the surgical level preoperatively and intraoperatively; however, there is no established strategy for preventing WLSS. Considering the limited information on the details of cases involving WLSS, this multicenter survey aimed to report the findings of cases involving WLSSs and to examine the causes of WLSS and the preventative measures.