Other

SPİNAL INSTABİLİTY FOLLOWING GUNSHOT WOUNDS

  • Haluk ÖZER
  • Ömer AKÇALI
  • Ayhan KOÇAK

J Turk Spinal Surg 1999;10(1):20-23

Gunshot wounds are the third most common cause of the penetrating spinal injuries. Most civilian gunshot vvounds to the spine are accepted as biomechanically stable. The damage of spinal column and neural tissues depends on the kinetic energy of the projectile. Thus, high velocity missiles cause greater tissue damage than the low velocity missiles. Immediate surgical intervention is mandatory for multisystem injuries, and at the same time, extensive debridement is advocated for the spinal fracture as to prevent complications. Preoperative radiographic evaiuation may not be enough to assess the stability, and both missile damage and debridement process may result in spinal instability.

Keywords: Spinal instability, Gunshot wounds