Introduction

Because of the increasing violence in urban areas, gunshot wounds (GSWs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the population, especially among young people (Table 1).1, 2, 3, 4 The incidence of penetrating injuries to the spine has increased lately,5 and they cause 13–17% of all spine injuries.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 The incidence of spinal cord lesions caused by gunshots varies considerably, depending on the country, ranging from 13 to 44%. In some series, GSWs are the most common cause of spinal cord lesions, followed by traffic accidents; however, in others the order is the reverse.6, 12, 13, 14, 15

Table 1 Distribution of victims of gunshot wounds in the spine according to age (years) in Brazilian studies
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Assaults and arguments represent the main motivation for gunshots among civilians, whereas accidental causes are rare.1 A study undertaken in two Brazilian state capitals showed that GSW was the cause of 17–30% of all hospital admissions for external causes. Of these, spinal cord lesions represented 90% of the admissions, and 80% of patients developed paraplegia or quadriplegia.2

These victims are usually young people under the age of 30 years, male and of low socioeconomic status, and many suffer from neurological deficits because of the spinal cord lesions.1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 16 As noted, most patients are male, with the frequency of male victims of GSW in the spine varying from 78 to 94% in the literature (Table 2).3, 11, 17, 18, 19

Table 2 Distribution of victims of gunshot wounds in the spine according to the spine levels
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Most patients with GSW in the spine have complete spinal cord injury.3 Some studies show that the location of the lesion determines the deficit, so that cervical lesions lead to complete neurological deficits in ∼70% of the cases,20, 21 whereas lesions of the cauda equina and at the lumbosacral level are incomplete in 70% of cases.9, 22 The main prognostic factor considered for recovery is the initial neurological status23—that is, patients with incomplete deficit have superior functional prognoses compared with those initially evaluated as presenting complete deficits. The functional recovery in patients with neurological deficits resulting from GSW is usually worse than that of traffic accident victims or those with stab wounds.24 The period of follow-up to consider the functional status as definitive is a matter of controversy in the literature, varying from 2 weeks to 6 months.16, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27 Mortality in patients suffering from GSW increases with the severity of neurological deficit.16

Historical perspective

In Ancient Egypt, Imhotep (1700 BCE) reported traumatic injuries of the spine.25 Galen (130–200 CE) showed that longitudinal spinal cord lesions do not cause serious functional damage while transverse lesions were associated with paraplegia related to the level of the lesion.27 Ambroise Paré (1557) left the first description of spinal cord injury caused by firearms. During the US Civil War, 642 cases of spinal GSW were reported.28 The use of antibiotics and changes in the surgical treatment of spine lesions, such as early surgery, debridement and applying of patches were a milestone in World War II, greatly reducing the mortality of these patients.29

Ballistics

The kinetic energy of an object depends on its mass and velocity (E=1/2mv2). Low-energy projectiles, fired from pistols and revolvers, travel at 1000–2000 feet per second (f.p.s.). Projectiles traveling at 2000–3000 f.p.s. are high-energy bullets fired from rifles and military weapons.30 Gunshot accidents in the civil population, therefore, involve low-energy firearms, and the tissue damage occurs mainly because of the impact from the projectile mass.11 According to Miller, 0.22, 0.25, 0.32 and 0.38 caliber handguns are indeed the most common;30 however, the incidence of high-energy GSW in the civil population has increased.31 However, because of the difference between high- and low-energy weapons, treatment protocols designed in war situations should not be extrapolated to the normal routine in peaceful regions, as we explain below.3

The projectile velocity determines the wounding potential of the weapon;32 however, the energy is not the only factor contributing to tissue damage: the physical properties of the bullets, such as design and fragmentation, also determine lesion characteristics.33 Caseless ammunition tends to spread and produce a large, circumferential harm. There are, therefore, three mechanisms of tissue damage: the direct impact of the bullet, the pressure of shock waves and the temporary cavitation.11, 12, 30, 34 Mirovsky et al.35 verified this, observing that neurological deficits following GSW in the spine can occur even without direct trauma or violation of the spinal canal.

Classification of gunshot injuries in the spine

The spinal injuries caused by GSW may be classified as type I: transfixing (when small fragments are found inside the canal); type II: intracanal (when the whole projectile is inside the canal); or type III: intervertebral lesions (when the bullet is inside the intervertebral disc space; Figure 1). Type III injuries are subdivided into (A) spinal lesion not associated with perforation of abdominal viscera or (B) injury with perforation of abdominal organs. In most cases of GSW, the injury is transfixing, and only little fragments (altogether <50% of the projectile) remain in the spinal canal. In the second place come cases in which the projectile is lodged inside the canal3, 4, 36 (Table 3), comprising 20.4% of cases.

Figure 1
figure 1

Radiographs showing different types of gunshot wounds in the spine: type I (left), type II (center) and type III (right).

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Table 3 Proportion of transfixing injuries to the spine
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Evaluation of a gunshot injury in the spine

The evaluation of a patient with a GSW should first follow the techniques of basic life support known as ‘ABCDE’ (airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure).3 Only after this is completed should the patient be cared for regarding the spinal lesion (Figure 2). If possible, useful information should be collected, such as the direction of the shot, type of weapon or bullet, the proximity of the discharging gun and the number of shots. A rigid collar must be placed to protect the cervical spine until radiographs are complete and properly analyzed.37 However, long and unnecessary immobilization potentially brings a negative prognosis and even mortality.38, 39

Figure 2
figure 2

Algorithm for the initial treatment of a patient with a gunshot wound in the spine, following the techniques of basic life support known as the ‘ABCDE’ (airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure).

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The patient should be undressed and moved carefully in search of bullet holes. As already stated, most GSWs are transfixing.3 The bullet holes must be differentiated as entry (with regular and clean edges) or exit (appearance of small explosion) holes. There should not be a deep digital exploration of holes, especially in the abdominal region. Physical examination of the spine should follow, as in other types of trauma in this region, with palpation of all the spinous processes in search of crepitus, gaps and pain points and with a complete neurological examination.

Table 2 shows data from the literature about the distribution of lesions according to spinal levels.3, 11, 17, 18, 19 Special concerns for each region are detailed below.

Cervical spine gunshot injuries

Cervical GSWs most likely result in complete rather than incomplete neurological deficit.11 Injuries in the cervical spine are frequently associated with airway lesions that may require emergency intubation,40, 41 and they are mostly stable; therefore, there is no reason to delay salvage procedures by taking radiographs.38, 42, 43, 44 The reason for the stability of cervical lesions from GSW compared with closed traumas is that the ligamentous complex remains intact in most cases, despite the anterior spine destruction.45 Indeed, the main causes of death from penetrating trauma to the neck are vascular injuries.34 Pulsatile bleeding from the neck should raise the suspicion of injury of the carotid or vertebral arteries. Injuries of the larynx and esophagus must be identified and assessed because of association with infections. There is still a significant rate of lung infection associated with cervical spine GSW.16 Figure 3 shows an algorithm for the clinical approach in cases of penetrating injuries to the cervical spine.

Figure 3
figure 3

Algorithm for the clinical approach for penetrating injuries to the cervical spine.

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Thoracic spine gunshot injuries

The thorax is the region most frequently affected by GSW (Table 2).3, 11, 17, 18, 19 Special attention should be given to the various organs and structures that are at risk in the projectile path until reaching the spine. In the chest, the heart, lungs and great vessels may be damaged. In the abdomen, lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the colon, must be recognized and treated because of the high risk of infection.20, 46, 47, 48 Barros Filho et al.,3 in a review of 1000 cases of spine GSW, showed an incidence of 18.4% of injuries associated with spinal trauma, and hemopneumothorax was the most frequent (9.7%). Transfixing trauma was the most common type. Literature review also shows that abdominal lesions and hemopneumothorax are the most prevalent (24% and 20%, respectively) associated injury,11 and that transfixing lesions are the most common.3, 36 The incidence of lesions to vital organs is 20%.49

Lumbosacral spine gunshot injuries

The main concern in cases of lumbosacral spine GSW in the acute phase should be possible bleeding, which sometimes endangers the life of the patient. If identified, bleeding should be promptly treated with tamponade, exploration or embolization (the latter endangers the neural structures due to ischemia).50

Diagnostic imaging

Two orthogonal radiographs should be performed to diagnose fractures and locate the bullet or bullets. The stability of the spine can be assessed by dynamic radiographs (in flexion and extension); however, this imaging requires that the patient is awake and neurologically normal, which is easier a few days after the injury, when the pains and spasms decreased. Low-speed gunshots, the most common in civilian circumstances, usually do not cause spine instability.51

The need for radiograph exploration of the spine in search of fractures in cases of injuries to the head and face has been questioned in the literature. Some series have reported no spine fracture in association with shots taken against the skull.44, 52 Kihtir et al.43 reported 10% and 20% of cervical fractures in association with injuries to the jaw and orbit, respectively, and no fracture in the lower (mandibular) area. Thus, the need to X-ray the spine in search of fractures in patients with skull GSW is not well established.

Once a spine fracture is detected, computed tomography is the next test to perform, allowing for better location of the bullet, definition of bone damage and the presence of intracanal fragments. In addition, computed tomography allows for evaluation of instability.53 The use of magnetic resonance imaging is controversial. Despite its advantage of better delineation of soft tissue and nerve elements,54, 55 there is a potential risk of migration of the bullet because of the magnetic field, which can cause or worsen the neurological deficit. However, numerous studies have not confirmed this fact.56 It has been stated that a low-energy, copper-covered bullet does not present magnetic properties that would lead to migration,57 but it is difficult to determine the quality of the projectile in the emergency room to make a decision about the indication of magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging typically complain of discomfort and, for this reason, the examination is often suspended.

Treatment

The initial approach of GSW should follow ATLS (advanced trauma life support) principles, addressing injuries with higher mortality risk, upper airway lesions in the face and neck, and injuries of great vessels. Exsanguination followed by hemothorax and pneumothorax is the main cause of death in patients injured by firearms. Lesions of abdominal viscera must be surgically dealt with, including abdominal cavity washing/cleaning and debridement of the wound. Fractures of long bones should be washed, debrided and fixed externally, and spinal injuries should be left for a second surgical procedure.

Medication treatment

Tetanus vaccination

The patient’s vaccination status must be checked. If there is any doubt about the last dose of antitetanus vaccine administered, vaccination should be performed while still in the emergency room.58

Antibiotics

Antibiotic therapy should be initiated immediately with broad-spectrum antibiotics in all cases for 48–72 h, especially in patients with perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, with high risk for infection (especially when the colon is affected, which presents a greater risk of infection than perforation of the stomach or small intestine). This type of injury is present in 23.7% of GSW of the spine. In these cases, exploratory laparotomy is recommended, with surgical lavage of the abdominal cavity with abundant saline after repair or bypass of the intestine for a loop or Hartman type colostomy.20, 59 The surgical removal of the bullet and bone debridement in the spine path are not considered necessary or effective in preventing infectious complications, and leaving the bullet lodged in the spine is not a risk factor for infection.8, 60 The administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics intravenously extended for 7–14 days reduces the rate of infection compared with administration for 48–72 h (Table 4).46, 48, 58

Table 4 Time in antibiotic therapy according to the type of gunshot wounds in the spine
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Septic complications such as osteomyelitis, meningitis, or intrathoracic or intra-abdominal abscess have catastrophic consequences and are difficult to treat, with poor therapeutic response.61 In our institute, all GSW affecting spinal bones receive immediate broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, and all cases are evaluated by the hospital infections committee. Usually, the choice is for teicoplanin, at a dose of 400 mg twice daily, and amikacin, 750 mg in one dose daily for 5 days. In cases with bowel perforation, we add metronidazole at a dosage of 500 mg, three times daily, for a period of 5–7 days.

Corticosteroids

The use of corticosteroids in high doses in patients with spinal cord injury has been advocated for many years. However, since the implementation of the National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study II (NASCIS-II) in 1990, several authors have questioned the use of high-dose methylprednisolone because of the risks of complications and side effects, with little relevant effects on neurological outcomes.

Several published studies have found no evidence for the use of high doses of methylprednisolone in patients with spinal cord injury.11 In patients injured by firearms, the NASCIS-II protocol failed too. Levy et al.19 retrospectively analyzed 236 cases, with 55 patients treated with adjuvant corticosteroids, compared with another group not receiving this treatment. The authors found no evidence to support the use of the medication. Simpson et al.62 analyzed 142 cases, using doses of 4–6 mg dexamethasone, every 4 h, and they also concluded that the use of this corticosteroid did not change the neurologic prognosis.

In Brazil, the Brazilian Medical Association published the Guideline Project, aiming to standardize the procedures in public and private medical institutions, as well as in teaching hospitals. The Guidelines state that the use of corticosteroids produces no benefit to the patient with spinal cord injury.63

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment of GSW in the spine remains controversial. Many issues are discussed: decompressive laminectomy has been shown as ineffective for neurological recovery,11, 23 and the removal of the bullet may not be capable of reducing infection24, 45, 64 while, as discussed above, intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy for 7–14 days satisfactorily fulfills this role. The main evidence for recovery is in cases of incomplete deficits, especially in the lumbar region (cauda equina) in which the procedure is performed early.10, 11, 17, 65

The only absolute indication for surgery in spinal GSW is the presence of cutaneous or pleural liquor fistula or the presence of documented progression of the neurological deficit associated with compression of neural elements in imaging examinations.5 Laminectomy should be considered in patients with partial neurological deficit, especially those with cauda equina, with imaging showing involvement of the spinal canal by bone or metal fragments. The surgery should be performed in the first 24–48 h, provided that the potentially fatal injuries have been treated and the patient is clinically stable.11, 23, 61, 66, 67

Nevertheless, some studies in the military field show controversial results even in patients with incomplete neurological deficit. Stauffer et al.68 treated 79 patients with GSW with incomplete neurological deficit. Of these, 71% had some neurological improvements after surgery, whereas 76.5% of those who did not undergo surgical treatment also showed improvement. Yashon et al.69 and Heiden et al.66 presented similar results. Cybulski et al.67 compared patients undergoing surgery before and after 72 h and observed no statistical difference in neurologic improvement between the two groups. The recent literature supports decompression and removal of the projectile in cases of incomplete or progressive deficit.5

Another indication for surgery is spinal instability caused by associated fractures, observed in 10% of the cases.70 In contrast to blunt trauma, which has well-established criteria for instability, in penetrating trauma to the spine, any degree of curvature may represent an abnormal or translational instability. In these cases, the segments must be fixed and stabilized by means of instrumentation and fusion. Comminution of the vertebral body or posterior elements, with radiological evidence of deformity, can also result in segmental instability. Another important cause of instability is a wide decompressive laminectomy, also requiring fixation to prevent iatrogenic spinal deformities.24

In making a decision, the surgeon should keep in mind that surgical treatment is associated with a higher complication rate.11 The indications for surgery (Figure 4) should be as follows:

  • Neurological deterioration in a patient with incomplete deficit

  • Presence of externalized liquoric fistula (risk of meningitis)

  • Mechanical instability

  • Installed toxicity

  • Location of the bullet at risk for migration (inside the disk or intracanal)

  • Location of the bullet at risk of toxicity (articular or intracanal)

Figure 4
figure 4

Imaging examinations of a male patient, aged 29 years, with a bullet lodged in T11, complete neurological deficit and with a liquoric fistula. (a) Initial radiographs evidencing the presence of the bullet. (b) Axial and sagittal cuts of the computed tomography imaging, better defining the position of the bullet and showing bone lesions and contact with the spinal canal. (c) Images obtained during surgery showing the removal of the projectile and the correction of the fistula.

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Complications

Pain is probably the most common complication in the long term and is quite prevalent in cases of involvement of the cauda equina and conus medullaris.71 The removal of the bullet is not associated with the resolution of the pain.65 This situation is usually managed with administration of drugs, such as tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants such as amitriptyline or gabapentin.23, 62, 65, 71 The mechanism of tricyclic antidepressants in ameliorating neuropathic pain is not well understood; they probably reduce the pain by their unique ability to inhibit the presynaptic reuptake of biogenic amines, such as serotonin and noradrenaline. Other mechanisms may involve blockage of ion channel and n-methyl d-aspartate receptors.72 Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin and pregabalin have a moderate to large effect on improvement of pain relief, as shown in randomized controlled trials.73 Their action in neuropathic pain is not clear, either, however; they bind calcium channels and modulate calcium influx as well as influence GABAergic neurotransmission, and block new synapse formation, which may relieve pain.74 In refractory cases, surgical procedures, such as the ablation of the nociceptive root, can be performed.65, 71

Another problem related to the lodged bullet is metal toxicity, particularly from lead. Systemic intoxication by lead, also known as lead poisoning, plumbism or saturnism, is a rare but reported complication after GSW cases in which the bullet remains lodged in the spine.75, 76, 77, 78 Some factors are decisive for the occurrence of lead poisoning, and the location of the projectile is the main risk factor.79 When the bullet penetrates subcutaneous muscle or the bone, a fibrous capsule is formed, which prevents contact with body fluids or blood.75 When the bullet is inside the joint, the capsule is formed, but because of constant contact with the synovial fluid, the lead particles that are released can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in clinical symptoms and laboratory signs. The joints most commonly affected by GSW are the hip and the knee. Other factors involving lead toxicity are exposure time and genetic predisposition. Because of a lower corrosion power of the cerebrospinal fluid compared with the synovial fluid, it is uncommon for intracanal projectiles to cause lead poisoning. Projectiles near the facet joints or intervertebral disc space, in turn, are more likely to cause the problem.80, 81, 82, 83

Lead poisoning can result in various clinical symptoms76 with an effect on laboratory examinations and with joint pain, anemia, peripheral paresthesia due to demyelination of the motor axon, abdominal complaints, headache, fatigue, signs of encephalopathy (such as memory loss), and attention deficit and behavioral alterations,53 and may even lead to death.84, 85 In fact, the clinical picture of lead poisoning is frequently undernoticed,53 as is the elevation of serum lead levels. Confirmation can be made by bone marrow biopsy, which reveals hematopoietic changes. Examination of serum lead levels should be requested at the beginning of treatment, again in 2 weeks, then monthly for 3 months, and finally at 1 year following the injury. Acceptable levels are <40 μg dl−1 in adults and <10 μg dl−1 in children.52, 86 Treatment with chelating agents should be started as soon as the problem is recognized, usually when serum levels of lead are >100 μg dl−1 or >50 μg dl−1 in symptomatic cases, followed by a plan to withdraw the bullet. The best-known chelating agents are edetate calcium disodium (that is, EDTA), dimercaprol and succimer.

Meningitis is a complication inherent to trauma, and surgical treatment is considered a risk factor.7, 62 Charcot arthropathy is a complication that has been described; however, it is uncommon following a GSW. The clinical picture consists of pain associated with progressive deformity in the affected level or below. The treatment is surgical stabilization.87, 88, 89 Neurogenic bladder and urinary tract infections are other common complications.11 Another possible complication is the migration of the projectile, which may or may not cause changes in neurological function.90

A special note about high-energy weapons

With the rise of organized crime and terrorist attacks, the incidence of attacks with high-energy weapons increases too. As mentioned earlier, the tissue destruction by high-energy projectiles is much worse than is found with low-energy GSW. Just as in low-energy GSW, however, decompressive laminectomy is not directly related to changes in the neurological status in these cases. The indications for surgery are different here, although, because the debridement of devitalized tissue decreases the prevalence of sepsis and secondary infections, with a low rate of secondary complications of the procedure.58 More studies addressing the issue of high-energy GSW in the civilian population, in our opinion, are necessary for us to address more properly the peculiarities of this type of injury.

Conclusions

GSWs in the spine are a frequent problem with a real impact on the population and on health system costs. Beyond conventional radiography, it is important to use computed tomography to better characterize bone lesions and the exact positioning of the projectile and fragments, to identify a possibly unstable lesion. With these data, we can determine whether there is any indication for a surgical procedure for removing the bullet. There should be a clear indication for surgical treatment because the conservative approach is safer.