PREGNANCY AND ITS OUTCOME IN QUADRIPLEGIA DUE TO POTTS SPINE

Pregnancy with quadriplegia is a problem sometimes encountered in obst etric practice. The etiology of quadriplegia in the developed world is mainly spinal cord tumor or accident, while in the developing countri es the main cause is tuberculosis of the spine. We report the manageme nt of two pregnant patients with quadriplegia due to tuberculosis of t he cervical spine. Worsening of the neurological condition necessitate d early surgical intervention, and termination of pregnancy was advise d in both patients. Literature on the subject makes frequent reference to the life-threatening complication of autonomic hyperreflexia encou ntered during pregnancy and delivery. It is characterized by sweating, headache, severe hypertension leading to unconsciousness and convulsi ons. These complications, surprisingly, were absent in both of our pat ients.