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Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2014; 11(02): 113-117
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnt.2014.12.003
Original Article
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Spinal stab injury: A rare injury and individualized management

Sudheesh Ramachandran   1
a   Senior Resident, Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Chirag Solanki   1
a   Senior Resident, Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Dhananjaya I. Bhat
b   Additional Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Bhagavatula Indiradevi
d   Professor and Head, Department of Neurosurgery, NIMHANS, Bangalore 560029, India
,
Raman Sharma
c   Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

12 June 2014

02 December 2014

Publication Date:
06 April 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Aims

The spinal stab injuries being very rare, there have been no established management guidelines. Our aim is to establish an algorithm for management of this injuries.

Methods

We in our study report three cases of spinal stab injury which were managed individually. All of them were managed by different modalities of treatment with satisfactory results. Analyzing the different management protocols applied to each case, we try to formulate an algorithm for management of these rare injuries.

Results

Out of three cases reported, one of the spinal stab injury patient was managed conservatively as there was no CSF leak. Other patient was managed with CSF diversion as patient had delayed wound CSF leak following wound repair. In contrast our third patient underwent direct primary repair of dural defect as he presented early with CSF wound leak. Analyzing these three patients we propose an algorithm for management of spinal stab injuries.

Conclusion

The spinal stab injuries are very rare without established management protocols. In this case series we emphasize on individualized management. The simple algorithm proposed here can be useful in managing spinal stab injuries. A timely appropriate intervention can improve the outcome in spinal stab injury patients and unnecessary interventions can be avoided.

Keywords

Spinal stab injury - CSF leak - CSF diversion - Dural tear - Dural patch repair

1 Contributed equally.


 

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