Late post-operative paraparesis after rib penetration of the spinal canal in a patient with neurofibromatous scoliosis.
Rib displacement into the spinal canal is a rare cause of paraplegia or paraparesis in patients affected by neurofibromatous scoliosis. We describe a case of paraparesis in a 14-year-old child affected by neurofibromatous dystrophic kyphoscoliosis, treated with combined posterior and anterior spinal arthrodesis. Seventeen days after the surgical treatment the patient developed clinical signs and symptoms of paraparesis. A CT scan showed the head of the fifth rib protruding into the spinal canal with cord compression. Rib resection and posterior cord decompression were carried out following complete neurological recovery.
Cappella
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M
Department of Spine Surgery, Centro di Chirurgia Vertebrale, Hesperia Hospital, Via Arquà 80/A, 41100, Modena, Italy, camax@katamail.com.
Bettini
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N
Dema
E
E
Girardo
M
M
Cervellati
S
S