Paraplegia by Acute Cervical Disc Herniation after Shoulder Arthroscopic Surgery in Beach-Chair Position

Abstract

Paraplegia after non-cervical spine surgery under general anesthesia is a rare devastating postoperative complication [1]. A patient with shoulder pain was scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy due to rotator cuff repair. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery was performed with the patient in the beach-chair. Postoperatively, patients complained the weakness of both lower leg and marked numbness and tingling in the both arms. MRI showed a herniated intervertebral disc between C6 and C7 with spinal cord compression. Despite urgent discectomy, the patient remained dysesthesia of both upper extremities for 6 months. The purpose of this report is to introduce our case with a paraplegia observed after arthroscopic shoulder surgery in beach-chair position because of acute cervical herniation.