title: Iatrogenic paraplegia in 2 morbidly obese patients with ankylosing spondylitis undergoing total hip arthroplasty.
abstract: The authors describe 2 cases of intraoperative thoracic vertebral body extension fractures in morbidly obese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), undergoing total hip arthroplasty, with resultant acute traumatic paraplegia. The pathophysiology with regard to the surgical positioning and the associated risks of obesity and AS are reviewed. Additionally, strategies for avoiding these types of injuries are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Shabbar F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Danish
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilden
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuster
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications*; D016683:Supine Position; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries