A case report of firearm bullet settling into the thoracic spinal canal without causing neurological deficit or vertebral bone destruction

The main objective of this study was to present a case of gunshot injury in which a bullet particle settled into the inferior-thoracic epidural canal, which was neurologically intact, without causing any vertebral bone destruction. There has been no previous report in the literature regarding a foreign body settling into the vertebral canal following gunshot injury without causing any bony destruction.

A 40-year-old male patient was hospitalized in emergency service with the complaints of severe pain in his back and both legs secondary to a gunshot wound. The entrance wound of the traversing projectile was located at the level of the tenth costa at the inferior of the right scapula. Neurological examination revealed no motor deficit. His lung X-ray was normal at radiological examination. Direct radiograph determined a bullet nucleus on the medium line at thoracolumbar level T-12. Intracanalicular bullet nucleus was found at posterior epidural at the T-12 level on thoracic CT, myelography and CT myelography. No vertebral bone destruction was seen in the direct radiograph studies and serial CT. T12 total laminectomy was performed and epidural foreign body removed. The patient, whose pains ameliorated during the postoperative process, was discharged without any neurological deficit.

We prefer removal of firearm particles settling into the spinal canal in view of possible later complications such as infection and the toxic effect of the metallic particles, unless there appears any risk of neurological detriment to the patient.