Stabbing Penetrating Injuries of the Spinal Cord and Nerve Roots – Case Reports

Czech version

Authors: V. Přibáň ^1,2; J. Fiedler ¹; P. Řehoušek ¹; M. Bombic ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Neurochirurgické oddělení, Nemocnice České Budějovice, a. s. ¹; Neurochirurgická klinika LF MU a FN Brno ²
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2010; 73/106(5): 559-562
Category: Case Report

Overview

Injuries that penetrate the spinal cord and nerve roots are rare. No optimal therapy has yet been established. The authors present four case reports of injuries penetrating the spinal cord or nerve root, all of the patients victims of knife stabbings. Clinical symptoms: one case of complete transverse spinal cord lesion – paraplegia; one case of Brown-Séquard syndrome; one case of left L4–S1 nerve root lesion; and one case of asymptomatic clinical course after dorsal T1 nerve root transcision. Surgical therapy was based on wound revision, laminectomy, removal of foreign body if present and watertight closure of the dural sac. Antibiotics were administered during the peri-operative period. Relevant literature for the period 1950–2009 is summarized. Only eight case series and a few dozen case reports of penetrating spinal cord injuries are documented. A therapeutic protocol is suggested on the basis of our own experience and the review of the literature.

Key words:
spinal cord injuries – penetrating

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