Complete recovery of severe quadriparesis caused by stab wound at the craniocervical junction

Elgamal, Essam A., Neurosurgery Division, Surgery Department (37), College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, PO Box 7805 Riyadh 11472, Saudi Arabia e-mail: eelgamal@hotmail.com Tel.: +966-1-4671273 Fax: +966-1-4679493Non-missile penetrating spinal cord injuries are uncommon, and involvement of the craniocervical junction is even less frequent. The author reports a case of 42- year-old male who presented with quadriparesis immediately following stab injury inflicted with a kitchen knife to the back of his neck. The knife was retained in the patient’s neck. Neurological examination revealed spastic paraplegia and severe weakness of the left upper limb and the right-hand grip, and sensory disturbance from C2 and downwards. In addition to these symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was leaking from the wound. Computerised tomography (CT) scan showed the blade passed through the spinal canal and its tip reached the odontoid peg. After retrieval of the knife, his quadriparesis recovered. The management and outcome of the patient are described