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CC BY 4.0 · Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2024; 21(01): 067-070
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1760450
Case Report

Penetrating Iron Rod Wound of the Lumbar Spine Causing Cauda Equina Syndrome in a Child: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Roger Mulumba Ilunga
1   Neurosurgery Department, Thies Regional Hospital, Thies, Senegal
,
Louncény Fatoumata Barry
1   Neurosurgery Department, Thies Regional Hospital, Thies, Senegal
,
Mouhamadou Moustapha Ndongo
1   Neurosurgery Department, Thies Regional Hospital, Thies, Senegal
,
Yakhya Cisse
1   Neurosurgery Department, Thies Regional Hospital, Thies, Senegal
,
Hugues Ghislain Atakla
2   Neurosurgery Department, Fann University Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
,
Daouda Wague
2   Neurosurgery Department, Fann University Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
,
Mohameth Faye
1   Neurosurgery Department, Thies Regional Hospital, Thies, Senegal
,
Momar Code Ba
2   Neurosurgery Department, Fann University Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
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Abstract

The authors report the case of a 10-year-old child who was admitted to the emergency room with a penetrating lumbar spinal injury caused by an iron rod, which occurred accidentally during a recreational activity. The clinical presentation was a ponytail syndrome with paraparesis and cerebrospinal fluid discharge from the lumbar penetration point of the iron rod. The lumbar X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan performed in the emergency room revealed the iron rod penetrating the spinal canal through the lamina of the L3 vertebra on the left, requiring urgent surgical management, consisting of laminectomy of L3 allowing the removal of the iron rod and repair of the dura mater without any damage to the roots of the cauda equina. The evolution was favorable with complete motor recovery at 3 months follow-up.

Keywords

iron rod - cauda equina - lumbar spine - penetrating wound - child

Authors' Contributions

All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. R.M.I. and L.F.B. conceptualized the article. M.M.N., Y.C., H.G.A., D.W., M.F. and M.C.B. gathered the data. All the authors revised the article and approved the final draft of the article that was submitted. F.M. and M.C.B. provided guidance toward the completion of the article.




Publication History

Article published online:
01 March 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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