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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor
Published on: July 24, 2012
Penetrating spinal cord injury causing paraplegia in a bird hunter in rural Tanzania
Daniël Cornelis van Adrichem1, Marit Rianne Helmine Angelique Ratering1, Sakina Mehboob Rashid2
11Radboudumc Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Introduction:
Cultural and socioeconomic factors influence the risk of sustaining a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TSCI). The standard of management and rehabilitation available to TSCI patients differs greatly between high-income and low-income countries.
Case Presentation:
We report a 17-year-old male bird hunter, with no prior medical history, presenting with paraplegia and sensory loss from the xiphoid process down after being struck by an arrow in the left lateral side of the neck.
Discussion:
Penetrating neck injuries are potentially life threatening because of the complex arrangement of vital structures in the neck. Management of spinal cord trauma resulting from such injuries in low-resource settings is challenging.
