2Başkent Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Adana Uygulama Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi Kliniği, ADANA
9Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, I. Beyin Cerrahi Kliniği, ANKARA OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review patients with civilian gunshot injuries to the spine with reference to neurological injury, associated injuries, need for surgery and complications. In this study, initial neurological examination, radiological findings and treatment modalities were discussed.
METHODS: Fifteen patients were evaluated retrospectively who had been admitted in our clinic in 1999-2004. Nine cases treated medically and six by surgical methods.
RESULTS: All the patients were male with average age of 26.9 (range 16-41). The spinal injury was complete (Frankel A) in 6 patients (40%), incomplete (Frankel B,C,D) in 8 patients (53%) and having no neurological deficit (Frankel E) in one patient (7%). The injury level was cervical in 3, thoracic in 6, thoracolumbar in 1 and lumbosacral in 5 cases. There were associated injuries in 6 patients (40%). Complications included infection in 3, CSF fistula in 2 patients and 3 deaths. There were visceral organ injuries in 2 of these patients. After 3- 12 months of follow-up, 50% of the patients improved neurologically, 30% were unchanged and 20% of the cases were worse according to initial status.
CONCLUSION: In the present study, we found that the results were better in the patients who had incomplete injury with no associated visceral organ trauma and were treated conservatively.
Anahtar Kelimeler : Spine, Spinal cord, Gunshot injury, Treatment, Civilian