Related Experiment Videos
A foreign body in the spinal canal. A case report
1Department of Orthopaedics, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore, India.
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume
|February 7, 2001
Summary
A penetrating abdominal injury introduced wood fragments into the spinal cord, causing an upper motor neurone lesion. This rare case highlights delayed neurological complications from foreign bodies in the spinal canal.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Spinal cord injuries can present with delayed neurological deficits.
- Foreign bodies within the spinal canal are uncommon causes of neurological compromise.
Observation:
- An 18-year-old male presented with progressive lower limb weakness.
- Imaging and surgical exploration revealed two foreign bodies compressing the spinal cord at the D12-L1 level.
Findings:
- The foreign bodies were identified as bundles of small wood fragments.
- Histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of wood material within the spinal cord.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for overlooked penetrating injuries to cause late-onset spinal cord pathology.
- It emphasizes the importance of thorough patient history and diagnostic workup for unexplained neurological symptoms, particularly in cases with a history of trauma.
- Management of intraspinal foreign bodies requires careful surgical consideration to prevent further neurological damage.