Twenty seven patients with spinal gunshot injury were admitted to our department from 2000 to 2006. Functional recovery in patients who underwent early surgical procedure was evaluated. Twenty seven w ere treated surgically, of whom 21 had incomplete injuries (Frankel scores B,C and D). In patients who had thoracal fracture group, one showed improvement, one was unchanged, and seven worsened. In patients who had lomber fracture group,12 showed improvement, four were unchanged, and one worsened. In patients who had incomplete spinal injury group,16 showed improvement, three were unchanged, and one worsened. In patients who had complete spinal injury group, one showed improvement, one was unchanged, and four worsened.
We suggest that patients with incomplete and/or lomber fracture have better prognosis for fonctional recovery when early surgery is performed.
Keywords: Spinal gunshot wounds, spinal fracture, early surgical management