A Cervical Spine Gunshot Injury without Bone or Neurological Deficits

Majed Amer

doi:10.20428/yjms.9.1.cr

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Missile injuries of the spine has been reported literatures, The neurosurgical concern in such injuries is the degree of damage sustained during the bullet traversing the bony and neural tissue and their effect on long term follow up. PRESENTATIION: This report describes an interesting case of gunshot traversing the cervical vertebral body, the spinal cord and the posterior element without appearance of any bony destruction or neurological deficit. DISCUSSION: The patient was managed conservatively with long term follow up clinically and radiological with excellent recovery. CONCLUSION: Surgery should be served for specific cases according to the severity of the trauma and its effect.

Highlights

Gunshot wounds are one of the principal causes of spinal cord injuries [1]
The present case report is about a patient with a bullet injury to the cervical spine traversing the bony elements and the thecal sac without bone destruction or neurological deficit
There was a minimal leak of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the exit of the bullet, which stopped after a few days of conservative management

Summary

Introduction

Gunshot wounds are one of the principal causes of spinal cord injuries [1]. Damage to the spinal cord can be due to contusion, transection, vascular injury and subsequent ischemia after disrupting the soft tissue and bone by projectiles. Such damage is related to the distance of firing and the bullet trajectory, size, shape and velocity [3,4,5]. The present case report is about a patient with a bullet injury to the cervical spine traversing the bony elements and the thecal sac without bone destruction or neurological deficit. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and its accompanying figures

Presentation of the case

Discussion

Conclusions