Cervical spinal injury associated with patient positioning during percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is classically performed with patients in the prone position. We describe a 70-year-old male with a history osteoarthritis of C-spine who underwent a left percutaneous nephrolithotomy for a 2.2 cm staghorn calculus and subsequently suffered an iatrogenic cervical spine injury requiring surgical intervention. This case suggests screening imaging in patients with cervical osteoarthritis or selection of a supine approach in these patients should be considered.