• Jae Hyuk Yang, Amit Wasudeo Bhandarkar, Byung Gun Lim, Hitesh N Modi, and Seung Woo Suh.
• Department of Orthopaedics, Scoliosis Research Institute, Guro Hospital, Korea University, Guro Dong 80, Guro-gu, Seoul, Korea. gurospine@naver.com
• Eur Spine J. 2013 May 1;22 Suppl 3:S491-6.

PurposeTo report a complication of airway obstruction during spinal deformity correction surgery in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patient, due to lordoscoliosis, airway malacia, and prone surgical positioning, which was rectified by changing the position of the patient and surgery was successfully completed.Case DescriptionA 15-year-old boy was diagnosed with DMD and admitted for surgical treatment of thoracolumbar scoliosis. The patient's preoperative Cobb's angle was 79° and the kyphotic angle was -19°. During the initial period of surgery, while in the prone position, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) suddenly increased from 20-21 to 38-41 cmH2O, wheezing sounds were heard on auscultation of both lungs, and his blood pressure began to fall. Under suspicion of airway problem, intraoperative fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed which confirmed airway obstruction. Attributing patient's prone position as the cause of airway obstruction, the surgical position of the patient was changed from prone to semi-lateral. After this change, the PIP stabilized to within normal limits (20-23 cmH2O). The surgical correction was successfully completed with a posterior-only pedicle screw by the free-hand technique, with the patient in the semi-lateral position for the rest of surgery.ConclusionsLordoscoliosis and airway malacia in a patient with DMD can lead to occlusion of the tracheobronchial lumen when the patient is in the prone position. Changing the patient's position from prone to semi-lateral can be of help to reverse this airway obstruction and complete the surgery. Pedicular screw insertion can be safely and effectively carried out in this position using free-hand technique.

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