title: Shotgun injuries of the spine: neurosurgical management of five cases.
abstract: The role of neurosurgical intervention in penetrating spinal injury has not been clearly established. Functional outcome has not been shown to be influenced by operation. In fact, neurosurgical intervention has been shown to potentially increase the risk of serious complications. This paper examines a unique subset of patients with penetrating spinal injury-those secondary to shotguns. An analysis of five such cases and a review of the limited literature on the subject suggests that neurosurgical intervention is of limited value in such injuries and that initial management should focus primarily upon non-neurological injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Venger
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mattox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*