• Sylvester T Youlo, Michael T Merrick, Jeffrey A Cassidy, and Matthew A Halanski.
• *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.
• Spine. 2013 Dec 15;38(26):E1704-8.

Study DesignRetrospective case report of 2 cases.ObjectiveTo describe 2 cases of cervical spinal cord injury/vascular insult after posterior instrumentation of thoracic/thoracolumbar scoliosis.Summary Of Background DataSpinal 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.MethodsIn this report, we review the clinical histories of 2 adolescent females undergoing posterior spinal fusion with subsequent cervical spinal cord injuries.ResultsIn 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.ConclusionCervical spinal cord injuries may occur after distal deformity correction.

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