title: Cervical spinal cord injury after thoracic spinal instrumentation: a case series.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective case report of 2 cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe 2 cases of cervical spinal cord injury/vascular insult after posterior instrumentation of thoracic/thoracolumbar scoliosis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Spinal cord injury is an uncommon but well-documented complication associated with spinal deformity surgery. The midthoracic spinal cord is most vulnerable to these presumed vascular insults. Injuries above the level of instrumentation are rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this report, we review the clinical histories of 2 adolescent females undergoing posterior spinal fusion with subsequent cervical spinal cord injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both cases, intraoperative cervical alignment appeared neutral and all hardware appeared appropriately positioned. Spinal cord monitoring demonstrated changes in 1 patient but not in the other. With time, both patients improved clinically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical spinal cord injuries may occur after distal deformity correction.
authors: *Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin/American Family Children's Hospital, Madison, WI; and †Pediatric Orthopaedics, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI.
authors: Sylvester T
authors: ST
authors: Youlo
authors: Michael T
authors: MT
authors: Merrick
authors: Jeffrey A
authors: JA
authors: Cassidy
authors: Matthew A
authors: MA
authors: Halanski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*