Gunshot Injury with Intraspinal Intradural Location of a Bullet

Dr. Gamit Amitkumar Babulal, Dr. Suniti Kumar Saha, Dr. Kaushik Roy, Dr. Abhirup Chakraborty

Abstract: Gunshot injury to the spine which was earlier common in the military population is now being increasingly noted in civilians due to either license or illegal firearms with an increased rate of violence in the society. Gunshot wound (GSW) to the spine contributing to 13% to 17% of all spinal injuries, the management still complex and controversial. Surgery indicated in progressive neurological deterioration with complete/incomplete spinal cord injury and with associated other major organ injuries requiring immediate surgery. We represent a case of a 34 yr old man with a gunshot injury in the abdomen without an exit wound. He was paraplegic with right haemothorax and penetrating gunshot injury with a bullet at the level of l3 l4 lumbar spine on radiological examination. Patient underwent surgical removal of bullet and is in follow up since then.

Keywords: gunshot injury, deficit, spinal injury, complications