Stab wound to the intramedullary spinal cord: Presurgical and surgical management options for a retained blade to optimize neurological preservation.

BACKGROUND: We present a rare case of an intraparenchymal nonmissile penetrating spinal injury (NMPSI) occurring at the T11 level in a patient presenting without neurological deficit. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient sustained a knife wound that penetrated the lamina without incurring bony injury and entered the spinal cord at the T11 level. During surgery, the intramedullary penetration of the cord was confirmed, and following surgical removal of the knife, the patient fully recovered without losing any neurological function.
CONCLUSIONS: The surgical management of NMPSI in patients who are neurologically intact is controversial. Here, we report surgical excision of a knife that penetrated the spinal cord at the T11 level, without the patient incurring further neurological deterioration.

INTRODUCTION

Nonmissile penetrating injuries to the spine (NMPSI) are uncommon.[89] Those with retained penetrating objects (e.g., stab wounds attributed to knife injuries), particularly in neurologically intact patients, pose a unique set of challenges for clinical management. It is currently controversial as to whether neurologically intact patients should be treated surgically.[23567] Here, we describe a patient who sustained a penetrating injury to the spinal cord at the T11 level (e.g., an intramedullary spinal cord injury) and underwent surgical resection of the knife without incurring further neurological dysfunction.

CASE PRESENTATION

Initial presentation

A 58-year-old male presented to the emergency department neurologically intact, but with a common kitchen knife penetrating the spinal cord at the T11 level. His only complaint was a patchy, vague, and subjective nondermatomal sensory loss in the lower extremities. A computed tomography (CT) image showed that the knife had pierced the right-sided interlaminar space at the T11-T12 level where it fully entered the spinal canal [Figure 1]. All plates were removed from an open Jackson table to allow the patient to be intubated in the supine position. After intubation, the patient was moved back to a stretcher in the lateral position, and a similar turn was utilized to re-position him in the prone position [Figure 2]. Baseline intraoperative neuromonitoring, including motor and somatosensory evoked potentials (MEPs and SSEPs, respectively), was utilized throughout positioning and surgery, and at no point were any significant intraoperative changes were observed.

Figure 1

Initial imaging of lesion. (a) Plain films of chest showing knife in the thoracic region. (b) Ghost reconstruction of CT scan showing the knife relative to the vertebral bodies. (c) Sagittal CT of the spine showing the tip of the knife in the intramural space. (d) Axial CT of the spine showing the tip of the knife in the spinal canal

Figure 2

Preoperative view of stab wound. Preoperatively, the patient presented with this lesion and no neurological deficit

Surgery

Subsequent to sterile preparation and draping of the patient, the skin was opened perpendicular to the axis of blade, with care being taken to avoid any undue manipulation. In addition, no electrocautery was utilized during dissection and removal of the knife to avoid potential damage to the spinal cord. The serrated knife was firmly embedded in the T11-T12 laminar bone. An ultrasonic bone cutter was used to create a bone island around the knife, allowing the knife and the surrounding T11-T12 laminae to be removed without traumatic rotational force to the spinal cord. Under microscope visualization, the dural laceration from the knife was extended in order to look for intradural compressive hematoma or vascular injury. Although neither was present, there was a clear laceration of the spinal cord itself. Following copious irrigation, watertight dural closure was performed using running 4-0 Nurolon sutures. In order to minimize infection risk given the foreign body penetration, no adjuvant sealant was used, especially because solid dural closure had been achieved. The patient was placed on antibiotics and received a tetanus shot. Postoperatively, the patient's motor status remained normal, whereas his mild diffuse sensory loss was unchanged. Three months later, the patient continued to have residual sensory deficit, but was fully ambulatory and returned to work.

DISCUSSION

Decision making in patients who are neurologically intact but have sustained penetrating spinal trauma is complicated. Evidence for surgical management of penetrating spinal trauma has largely been driven by isolated case reports.[610] Despite the existence of a few case series, there are no standardized guidelines for managing these penetrating spinal cord injuries.[148]

Without focal neurological findings, it is typically presumed that the spinal cord has not been penetrated, making surgical exploration controversial.[56] Here, we describe a stab wound penetrating the spinal parenchyma at the T11 level in a neurologically intact patient, which has only been reported in a handful of other cases.[237] In this case, the unique anesthetic and surgical management utilized allowed for the safe removal of the knife and full recovery, except for continued subjective nondermatomal sensory loss.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, NMPSI with a retained object in a neurologically intact patient does not preclude an intramedullary lesion. Surgical exploration of all such injuries should be performed in order to extract the retained foreign object, utilizing the methods recommended in this case to avoid trauma to the spinal cord.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.