Unusual stab injury of the spinal cord.
OBJECTIVE
To report an unusual penetrating stab injury of the spinal cord.


METHODS
Case report of a 13-year-old boy who sustained cervical trauma following an accident while playing.


METHODS
Spinal Cord Injuries Unit, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, UK.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
S
S
O'Neill
C S
CS
McKinstry
S M
SM
Maguire
D000293:Adolescent; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*