Unusual spinal injury in a child caused by a wooden foreign body.

Abstract

Traumatic penetrating spinal injuries with wooden objects are rare. A 6-year-old boy presented with history of fall from tree 1 month back. It resulted in a penetrating injury at the lumbosacral area, followed by a discharging sinus without any neurological deficit. Radiological imaging showed a foreign body at the spinous process level traversing L4-5 and is lodged in L3-4 intervertebral body causing listhesis of L3 over L4. The wooden stick was retrieved with a meticulous surgical procedure. Proper imaging and early surgery are necessary to prevent any complications and early recovery.