Pregnancy and its outcome in quadriplegia due to Pott's spine.
Pregnancy with quadriplegia is a problem sometimes encountered in obstetric practice. The etiology of quadriplegia in the developed world is mainly spinal cord tumor or accident, while in the developing countries the main cause is tuberculosis of the spine. We report the management of two pregnant patients with quadriplegia due to tuberculosis of the cervical spine. Worsening of the neurological condition necessitated early surgical intervention, and termination of pregnancy was advised in both patients. Literature on the subject makes frequent reference to the life-threatening complication of autonomic hyperreflexia encountered during pregnancy and delivery. It is characterized by sweating, headache, severe hypertension leading to unconsciousness and convulsions. These complications, surprisingly, were absent in both of our patients.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, B.J. Medical College and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, India.
M K
MK
Vaidya
G V
GV
Shah
K E
KE
Bharucha
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery