Unusual stab injury of the spinal cord.

Abstract

To report an unusual penetrating stab injury of the spinal cord. Case report of a 13-year-old boy who sustained cervical trauma following an accident while playing. Spinal Cord Injuries Unit, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, UK. Mechanism of injury was by a spear-like electric fence post entering the neck. Initial neurological examination revealed tetraplegia with C4 sensory level. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spinal cord demonstrates the penetrating injury. No ligamentous instability was demonstrated. In the absence of this, the penetrating injury by a short blade thrown at speed was felt to be responsible for the subsequent injury and resulting outcome at discharge of C4 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade D tetraplegia.