Abstract
Introduction
Cultural and socioeconomic factors influence the risk of sustaining a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TSCI). The standard of management and rehabilitation available to TSCI patients differs greatly between high-income and low-income countries.
Case presentation
We report a 17-year-old male bird hunter, with no prior medical history, presenting with paraplegia and sensory loss from the xiphoid process down after being struck by an arrow in the left lateral side of the neck.
Discussion
Penetrating neck injuries are potentially life threatening because of the complex arrangement of vital structures in the neck. Management of spinal cord trauma resulting from such injuries in low-resource settings is challenging.
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The case study was approved of by the Medical Ethics Committee of KCMC, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania in the framework of a study on neurological disorders.
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van Adrichem, D.C., Ratering, M.R.H.A., Rashid, S.M. et al. Penetrating spinal cord injury causing paraplegia in a bird hunter in rural Tanzania. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 5, 49 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-019-0195-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-019-0195-7
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