Ann Rehabil Med.  2013 Feb;37(1):118-122. 10.5535/arm.2013.37.1.118.

A Case Report of Spinal Cord Injury Patient From a High Velocity Gunshot Wound to the Lumbar Spine

• Kim J
• Kim JH
• Bang MS

• KMID: 2266659
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2013.37.1.118

Abstract

We report on operational and rehabilitation management, as well as the outcome, of a patient who with sustained spinal cord injury from a high velocity gunshot wound to the lumbar spine. More specifically, a patient with a gunshot wound to the spine is more likely to sustain a complete injury and have a poor prognosis. As such, there should be concerns regarding associated and extended injuries related to bullet fragmentation as well as the possibility of long-term sequelae.

Keyword

Gunshot wound; Spinal cord injury; Forensic ballistics

MeSH Terms

Forensic Ballistics
Humans
Prognosis
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spine
Wounds, Gunshot

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Preoperative 3-dimentional reconstructed computed tomography shows a burst fracture of the first lumbar vertebra.

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  Fig. 2 Preoperative simple X-ray of the spine shows 2 large bullet fragments: 1) T12-L1 disc level, a 0.8-cm sized bullet fragment and 2) prevertebral space of L1, a 1.0-cm sized bullet fragment.

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  Fig. 3 Photograph of a bullet fragment in the T12-L1 disc space.

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  Fig. 4 Postoperative 3-dimentional computed tomography of the spine shows posterior fixation of T11-L3 and remnant bullet fragments in the spinal canal of the L1 level (A, lateral view; B, anteroposterior view).

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