title: Late post-operative paraparesis after rib penetration of the spinal canal in a patient with neurofibromatous scoliosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Centro di Chirurgia Vertebrale, Hesperia Hospital, Via Arquà 80/A, 41100, Modena, Italy, camax@katamail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cappella
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bettini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dema
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girardo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cervellati