Radiation-Free Management of Lumbar Spine Burst Fractures in Pregnant Women: A Report of Two Cases

Posterior decompression and stabilization in a pregnant patient with traumatic lumbar fracture: A case report

Spine fractures with or without spinal cord injury in the pregnant population are rare, with few reported cases. A 25-year-old primigravida at 24 weeks of gestation presented after falling off a fast-moving motorcycle one month prior. She had sustained a severe back injury and had difficulty walking. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an acute kyphosis secondary to comminuted anterior wedge compression fractures of the L2 and L3 vertebral bodies and L2/3 disc involvement with retropulsion of the fracture fragments into the central canal resulting in severe central canal stenosis. After multidisciplinary discussion, the patient underwent posterior decompression, reduction and stabilization with pedicle screws. The patient had good neurological recovery at discharge and the pregnancy progressed normally. Three months later, at 39 weeks of gestation, the patient had an uneventful spontaneous delivery of a healthy baby. This case illustrates the importance of multidisciplinary management of spinal cord injury in a pregnant patient.

Spinal cord injury during early pregnancy: Problems in the course of rehabilitation and infant care, a case report

CONTEXT

Spinal cord injury (SCI) sustained during pregnancy may be dangerous to the mother and her child. The risk is associated both with necessary diagnostic work-up and with the therapeutic process (radiographic investigations, surgical procedures, anesthesia, spinal shock, SCI complications, delivery). However, infant care is an enormous challenge for a woman with motor disability. The authors present a case report concerning the problems of treatment, rehabilitation and infant care in an SCI woman. To our knowledge, it is the first paper to describe SCI at such an early stage of gestation (2.5 weeks of gestational age/WGA).

FINDINGS

A 20-year old paraplegic woman after SCI was pregnant. The period of diagnostics (MRI, X-ray), surgery and rehabilitation was associated with minor complications for the mother and no complications for the child. At discharge from the rehabilitation center the patient presented Th11 paraplegia (AIS-C), 24.5 WGA, and she could walk using a walker with a knee-ankle-foot-orthosis on the right and an ankle-foot-orthosis on the left lower limb. She delivered at 38 WGA via cesarean section (girl, birth weight 2960 g, length 50 cm, APGAR = 9 and 10). Bathing the baby and walking with it were the main problems of the post-delivery period.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors potentially threatening the mother and child's health in SCI during pregnancy do not always contribute to the complications of the clinical status and health of the child. Comprehensive approach to the treatment, rehabilitation and care of pregnant women with SCI facilitates the course of pregnancy, delivery and child care.