Foreign body in the thoracic spine due to a nail gun penetrating injury: A case report

RATIONALE: Spinal cord injuries could be catastrophic because they may result in severe neurovascular complications. Here, we present a case of thoracic spine-penetrating injury by a nail-gun. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 60-year-old male presented to our emergency department with complaints of progressive right chest pain for 1 week that was preceded by back pain. He had a medical history of hypertension and denied any trauma history. He had alert consciousness and stable vital signs. He was a carpenter. Upon physical and neurological examination, no obvious wounds or vesicle formation were noted, and the patient was neurologically intact. DIAGNOSIS: Laboratory test results showed abnormally elevated D-dimer levels. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm. Chest radiography showed no mediastinal widening. Chest computed tomography was performed. The formal radiology report indicated a foreign body in the T4-5 spinal cord and upper back. INTERVENTIONS: A neurosurgeon was consulted with suggestion of operation. We performed T4-5 laminectomy and foreign body removal. The foreign body, stuck to the spinal cord with dural rupture, was removed and found to be a 5 cm-long broken nail. OUTCOMES: The pain resolved immediately post operation. LESSONS: Surgical removal of the foreign body is recommended if neurovascular complications or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is detected. Obtaining the patient's complete history, including occupation, might be helpful in determining the diagnosis. Careful interpretation of diagnostic imaging is necessary for avoiding medical disputes. Even in the absence of wounds and ecchymosis, trauma-related injury should be considered.