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Pediatric case of a penetrating lumbar spinal injury
Abdurrahman Arpa1, Pinar Aydın Ozturk2, Omer Sanrı3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Dicle University Medical Faculty, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Insights
A rare case of penetrating spinal trauma in a child due to a glass fragment highlights the importance of thorough physical examination. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes in pediatric spinal injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Penetrating spinal injuries are exceptionally rare in children.
- Pediatric patients' non-compliance can impede physical examination, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old child sustained penetrating spinal trauma from a glass fragment after a fall.
- Clinical presentation included restlessness and difficulty walking, with a foreign body detected in the lumbar spine.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of the foreign body was successful.
- The patient experienced an uncomplicated perioperative and postoperative recovery.
Implications:
- Emphasizes the critical need for detailed physical examinations in pediatric patients, even with limited history.
- Highlights the diagnostic value of skin findings in pediatric neurosurgery.
- Suggests that socioeconomic factors and physician caseloads can impact diagnostic timeliness.
Purpose:
Penetrating spinal injuries are generally extremely rare and are seldom encountered in pediatric patients. The non-compliance of pediatric patients with physical examination can sometimes delay diagnosis and treatment. Here, we present a case of a child who had a fall and suffered penetrating spinal trauma due to a small glass fragment.
Case Report:
A penetrating foreign body was detected in the lumbar spinal region of a 2-year-old patient with complaints of increased restlessness on physical activity followed by difficulty in walking. The patient was operated on and followed up without any complications in the perioperative and late postoperative periods.
Conclusion:
A detailed physical examination is necessitated in the pediatric age group because of insufficient anamnesis. The high number of patients per physician, especially in societies having a low socioeconomic standard, prevents detailed examinations, and unnecessary examinations may cause delays in diagnosis. However, one must note that the skin findings of pediatric patients can be very helpful, especially in pediatric neurosurgery, and examination should not be neglected.
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