Affiliation:
1. Senior Resident, Department of neurosurgery, Institute of Medical Sciences – Banaras Hindu University [IMS-BHU], Varanasi, India
2. Department of neurosurgery, Institute of Medical Sciences – Banaras Hindu University [IMS-BHU], Varanasi, India
Abstract
Penetrating spine injuries are second most common spine injury after blunt trauma. Stab wounds and, gunshot wounds are two common types of
penetrating injuries. Surgery has a signicant role in penetrating spine injury in cases of cord transection, cord compression by foreign body/ bony
and soft tissue fragment, bony instability and in CSF leak. Stab wounds have comparatively better prognosis. Moreover, surgery plays a much
larger role. Retained foreign objects should be removed after a stab injury, whereas bullet fragments may be left in place if it is not causing any role
in neurological compression. Penetrating spine injuries are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries. There is high rate of complications in
surgical intervention for penetrating spine injuries to the spine. Very few literatures are available showing data on Penetrating spine injuries to the
spine in India. Approximately 38 cases over the last 3 years have been recorded, with unusual presentation and neurological recovery. We tried to
ll this gap in data, by reviewing cases of Penetrating spine injuries to spine presenting at a tertiary care hospital. A Retrospective cohort Methods
study, in which Patients of all ages who presented to the emergency department of IMS BHU, with Penetrating spine injuries between October 2019
and April 2022 were included in the study. Neurological examinations were done and data were collected. American Spinal Injury Association
score (ASIA) was used for the initial and follow-up neurological assessment. Extent of cord transection, motor and sensory decits were also
recorded. The patients were grouped into patients with cord transaction and those with cord contusion with cord compression by foreign body or by
bony and soft tissue fragment, CSF leak, and intact spinal cord and having fractures with bony instability. All patients were then followed and the
outcomes were recorded. A total of 38 patients were identied. The mean ± Results SD of patients age was (30.9 ± 9.5) years. Of the 38patients with
Penetrating spine injuries 36 were gunshot wounds, 2 had sharp weapon penetrating spinal cord injury.35 patients were managed surgically and
conservative management done in 3 patients. The mean ± SD of follow-up was (8.7 ± 7.2) months. In our study, dorsal spine was the most
commonly injured region. Of the 38 patients with medical imaging performed at our institute, 27 (71.05%) having cord contusion, 6(15.78%) were
having cord compression by foreign body, 3(7.89%) were having bony instability without cord contusion and 2(5.26%) having CSF leak.
Conclusion The prognosis of Penetrating spine injuries to the spine depends on whether the spinal cord is intact or transected and on presence of
bony instability. Above inference will help healthcare providers to plan the further management of the patient and counsel them accordingly.
Subject
Religious studies,History,Virology,Infectious Diseases,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Microbiology,Parasitology,Epidemiology,Psychiatry and Mental health,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Applied Mathematics,Epidemiology,Epidemiology,General Medicine,Epidemiology,Epidemiology,General Medicine,Infectious Diseases,Epidemiology,Psychiatry and Mental health,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Epidemiology