Extraction of gunshot corpus allienum in upper cervical spine with transoral approach: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Penetrating trauma that caused by gunshot injuries have been reported about 17–21% of all spinal cord injuries. Transoral approach may facilitate accessing the lumens and sites such as upper cervical spine with minimally invasive surgical exposure. Here, we present an interesting case of removal a bullet in the cervical spine with new method. Case Presentation: A 53-year-old man who underwent a gunshot in the maxillary region of the face. A CT scan of head and neck showed that a metallic foreign body located in corpus vertebrae as high as C1-C2. The bullets in this patient were removed under the minimal invasive surgery through transoral approach. The patients were discharged without neurological deficit. Conclusion: The presented transoral approach can be used as minimal invasive surgery method to extract corpus allienum in upper cervical spinal region without spinal cord tissue damage.