Penetrating spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical features and treatment outcomes

Recovery of volitional movement with epidural stimulation after “complete” spinal cord injury due to gunshot: A case report and literature review

“…[ 1 , 7 ] Meta-analyses indicate no difference in recovery between operatively versus conservatively-managed pSCI patients; few in either group show meaningful recovery. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ] eSCS improves autonomic function and restores volitional movement in some SCI patients. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ] We report a 25-year-old pSCI patient who, following a GSW resulting in paraplegia, sustained marked recovery of function following eSCS placement.…”

“…Penetrating spinal cord injuries (pSCIs), most often from gunshot wounds (GSWs), comprise one-fifth of all spinal cord injuries (SCIs). [ 2 , 7 ] Although epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS) has restored volitional movement and autonomic function in patients with nonpSCIs, there is limited literature regarding its efficacy for pSCI. Here, we demonstrate restoration of volitional movement and autonomic function with eSCS in a paraplegic patient secondary to a T6-level GSW.…”

Breaking the Mold: Surgical Exploration for Spinal Impalement Injury Without Neurological Deficit

“…Penetrating SCI patients require a lengthier hospital stay and greater hospital expenditures than nonpenetrating SCI patients [17]. A recent systematic review concluded that surgical and conservative management for PSCI has equivalent effectiveness regardless of injury severity, emphasizing the need for tailored treatment strategies and careful surgical selection [18]. Zhang et al advised the management of penetrating spinal cord injury with retained foreign bodies by case-to-case assessment, highlighting the importance of immediate surgical removal to prevent contamination [19].…”

Inner and outer penetrating spinal cord injuries lead to distinct overground walking in mice

“…In humans, penetrating SCI is divided into missile SCI and non-missile SCI depending on the cause. Missile penetrating SCI is more frequent than non-missile SCI and gunshots were the most common cause ( Bin-Alamer et al, 2022 ). Non-missile penetrating SCI is rare, estimated at 0.8% in Western countries ( Abdulqader et al, 2022 ) and knife stabs were the most common cause of the non-missile SCI ( Bin-Alamer et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Missile penetrating SCI is more frequent than non-missile SCI and gunshots were the most common cause ( Bin-Alamer et al, 2022 ). Non-missile penetrating SCI is rare, estimated at 0.8% in Western countries ( Abdulqader et al, 2022 ) and knife stabs were the most common cause of the non-missile SCI ( Bin-Alamer et al, 2022 ). Patients with penetrating SCI undergo surgical or conservative management.…”