T8 spinal cord transection in a 6-year-old child

ABSTRACT

Study design: Case report.

Objective: To describe a case of spinal cord transection in a 6-year-old child.

Background information: Non-missile injury of the spinal cord is not common and its incidence varies according to the country. In addition, to our knowledge, there are no published reports of spinal cord injury (SCI) from a penetrating nail. Here, we report the case of a child who developed complete SCI because of cord transection by a nail.

Methods: A detailed history and physical examination were performed along with careful review of the patient’s medical records. In addition, a review of the literature was conducted to assess the incidence and treatment of similar injuries.

Case description: A 6-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital after falling from a tree and landing on a nail. His physical examination revealed an emaciated child with multiple decubitus ulcers, lying on his side in bed. Visible was a well-healed posterior puncture wound at the T8 vertebral level. On neurological examination, the patient had 0/5 muscle strength in his lower extremities, symmetrical areflexia, and hypoesthesia below the T8 level. Plain x-ray of the thoracolumbar spine was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a transected spinal cord at the T8 vertebra, consistent with his nail puncture wound.

Discussion: This report describes an unusual case of a complete SCI in a pediatric patient caused by penetrating trauma from a nail. To our knowledge, this is the first case to report on complete SCI due to trauma from a nail.

INTRODUCTION

While violence remains the third most common cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States, only 1% of SCIs occurs from stab wounds [1]. Non-missile injuries, namely stabbings, are more common in developing countries where access to firearms is limited [2], [3]. In a large series from South Africa, 25% of SCIs were reported to result from penetrating injuries not due to firearms, of which 84.2% were caused by stabbing [4]. Commonly used weapons include knives, ice picks, screwdrivers, and bicycle spokes. To our knowledge, no case of SCI caused by a fall onto a nail has been reported in the English-language literature.

Here we present a patient who developed complete SCI after his thoracic spinal cord was transected by a nail. The causative mechanism, diagnostic tools, and review of the literature on non-missile SCI are discussed.

METHODS

A detailed history and physical examination were performed along with a careful review of the patient’s medical records. Plain x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to help determine the etiology of the patient’s injury. A literature review was also conducted to assess the incidence of similar mechanism of SCI.

REPORT OF A CASE

A 6-year-old boy was initially evaluated in the emergency department in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, after he fell from a tree. At the scene of the fall, he was unable to independently ambulate. It was then discovered that he had landed on a nail, which was upright in a piece of wood. The nail penetrated his body at about the T8 vertebra and was found buried in the soft tissue; it was removed shortly after. Plain x-rays of the thoracolumbar spine were normal ([Fig 1]). The patient was then admitted to the spine ward at Mulago Hospital where he was examined 12 days later by a team of visiting surgeons.

On examination, he was emaciated and was lying on his side in bed. Clearly visible was his healed nail puncture wound ([Fig 2]). On neurological examination, the patient had 0/5 motor strength in the lower extremities, symmetrical areflexia, and hypoesthesia below the T8 level. He had diminished anal tone and required intermittent catheterization for urination. Clinically, his American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score was “A” with a T8 level.

After the initial neurological assessment, the team believed further imaging to evaluate the cord integrity and rule out a surgically correctable cause of paralysis would be in order. An MRI scan of the thoracic spine revealed a complete transection of the spinal cord at the T8 vertebra ([Fig 3]). There was no evidence of infection, tumor, or epidural abnormalities that could have otherwise accounted for the patient’s symptoms. The MRI confirmed the diagnosis that the boy suffered a spinal cord transection from the penetrating injury, namely the nail. A detailed discussion was conducted with the patient and his family concerning the prognosis and the fact that it would be unlikely for him to independently walk again. Also discussed was the role of nonoperative management, namely aggressive rehabilitation, bowel, and bladder care.

Fig 1

 AP x-rays of the thoracic spine. T8 vertebra (arrow).

Fig 2

 Digital photograph of the patient back highlighting the healed nail puncture wound. T8 vertebra (arrow).

Fig 3

 A T2 MRI scan of the thoracic spine. The white arrow indicates the nail tract and the resultant spinal cord (black arrow) transection.

DISCUSSION

The mechanism of SCI differs between developed and developing countries. In the United States SCIs are typically due to motor vehicle injuries (42.1%), falls (26.7%), violence (15.1%), sporting injuries (7.6%), and unknown events (8.6%) [1]. The latter is more common in the pediatric population and when this occurs it is called SCI without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) [5]. In addition, SCIs in juvenile patients are most often a result of motor vehicle injuries and falls from heights [6]. In developing countries, including South Africa, where there is a lack of access to firearms, the primary cause of SCI was a penetrating injury from a sharp object of which 84.2% resulted from stabbing. Most injuries caused hemi-section of the spinal cord with incomplete neurological deficits[4].

There are numerous case reports of SCI caused by nonviolent penetrating injuries. A recent case described SCI as a result of penetration from an epidural needle [7]. Another case report documented SCI from a glass fragment [8]. Most pencil injuries have been reported to occur in or around the orbital region [9], [10], with the exception of one report of SCI from pencil impalement[11]. Although craniofacial and both upper and lower extremities injury caused by nail impalement have been reported [12], to the best of our knowledge, no case of SCI, especially complete transection has been described in the English-language literature.

In this case the MRI suggests penetrating trauma to the cord. The SCI was believed to occur in the following manner: the nail transected the spinal cord via a path through skin, thoracolumbar fascia, either lateral to the spinal process or directly through the T8/T9 interspinous ligaments; then through the lamina or interlaminar space, and finally through the spinal cord. It is also postulated that the nail interrupted the posterior blood supply to the cord as well as damaging the artery of Adamkiewicz, which generally enters the spinal cord through T8 and T12 levels to supply the anterior part of the spinal cord [13]. In cases with suspected SCI due to impalement, plain x-rays are recommended to detect the level of lesion and penetration into the spinal canal. An MRI is recommended for further evaluation of the spinal cord and surrounding soft tissue and the relation between the object and the spinal cord. The surprising aspect of this case was the absence of any other morbidity, such as infection or cerebrospinal fluid leak.

In summary, we report a rare case of a complete SCI caused by cord transaction by a nail. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SCI by this mechanism.

No funding was received in support of this work.

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• REFERENCES COMMENTARY

• 1 Carreon LY, Glassman SD, Campbell MJ. 2004; Pediatric spine fractures: a review of 137 hospital admissions. J Spinal Disord Tech 17 (6) 477-482
• 2 Heary RF, Vaccaro AR, Mesa JJ et al. 1996; Thoracolumbar infections in penetrating injuries to the spine. Orthop Clin North Am 27 (1) 69-81

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