Spinal Cord Injury and Pregnancy: Obstetric Challenges and Neonatal Outcomes

Abstract

Objective:  Pregnant women with spinal cord injury (SCI) can have severe obstetric and neonatal challenges. However, there is limited literature on this population. Therefore, the objective of this study is to understand the obstetric and neonatal outcomes in these highly specialized individuals.

Materials and Methods:  This study was conducted at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS) and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore (LGH). A sample of 25 women who appeared with SCI during pregnancy at PINS were recruited in this descriptive study for data collection. Later, their pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were observed at the specified department of LGH. Descriptive statistics were computed for quantitative and qualitative variables.

Results:  The average age of these SCI patients was 28 ± 5.2 years. Most of the women (72%) got SCI during motor vehicle accidents (MVA). Thirteen women got SCI during their first trimester and faced severe complications like termination (12%) and miscarriages (12%) of pregnancies. Thoracic spine injury is the most common type of injury. Further, a Cesarean section was also adopted in 58% of cases, highlighting the potential challenges associated with SCI. A very high (42%) preterm birth rate was also reported in this unique sample.

Conclusions:  This study is a unique combination of gynecological and neurological aspects. The majority of the pregnancy outcomes are successful with medical support, however, a significant number of miscarriages and termination of pregnancies were also observed. Understanding these outcomes can aid healthcare professionals in improving prenatal and postnatal care and such SCI patients.