title: FRACTURE-DISLOCATION OF THE THORACIC SPINE DURING SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW.
abstract: Spinal fractures associated with spinal cord injury rarely affect pregnant patients. The authors present the case of a 20-year-old woman in her 20(th) week of pregnancy, who suffered fracture-dislocation of the thoracic spine (T4-T5) and underwent decompression, reduction and posterior fusion with pedicle screws. Despite the complete spinal cord injury presented, the pregnancy progressed uneventfully and resulted in birth via normal delivery of a healthy newborn at term. Some particular features of this case, like the care needed in using ionizing radiation, the surgical approach and delivery, use of steroids and pregnancy complications in such patients are discussed here. Only a multidisciplinary team composed by physicians from different specialties (spinal surgeons, obstetricians and physiatrists), nurses and physiotherapists is capable of assisting pregnant patients with spinal cord injuries satisfactorily.
authors.affiliation: PhD. Chief Physician of the Spinal Disorders Group, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alberto Ofenhejm
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Gotfryd
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Spinal Disorders Group, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Franzin
authors.affiliation: PhD. Adjunct Professor of the Physiotherapy Course, Federal University of São Paulo, Baixada Santista Campus, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Rios
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Poletto
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Spinal Disorders Group, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nicola Jorge Carneiro
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Metropolitan University of Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto César Nogueira
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist and Traumatologist, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos Lopes Ferreira
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Júnior
keywords: Pregnancy; Radiation, Ionizing; Spinal Cord Injuries; Spinal Fractures