An audit of five years' experience of pregnancy in spinal cord damaged women. A regional unit's experience and a review of the literature.

In a retrospective review of pregnancy and delivery in 8 spinal cord damaged women managed at Hexham General Hospital Spinal and Maternity Units between 1986 and 1991, antenatal complications included urinary tract infection, anaemia, constipation, suspected deep venous thrombosis and pressure sores. Five of the 8 patients had adductor spasms. Autonomic hyperreflexia occurred in 2 patients in the antenatal period, and in one patient in the postpartum period. Four patients were delivered by caesarean section, and 4 of the 8 patients had breech presentation of the foetus at delivery. The perinatal outcome was good.