• L Amendola, A Corghi, M Cappuccio, and F De Iure.
• UOSD Chirurgia Vertebrale del Trauma e dell'Urgenza, Ospedale Maggiore, Bologna, Italy. luca.amendola@yahoo.it.
• Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2014 Jan 1; 18 (1 Suppl): 2-7.

IntroductionBrown-Séquard syndrome due to a stab injuries is uncommon and results from a lesion in one half of the spinal cord.BackgroundThe role of surgery in the treatment of penetrating spinal injury often remain controversial.AimTo discuss the current diagnostic and therapeutic approach for these types of injuries.Materials And MethodsThe Authors describe two rare cases of Brown-Séquard syndrome due to civilian stab injuries differently treated. Mechanism of damage, clinical features and neurological outcome are reported.ResultsThe recovery of neurological function in the first case indicates that the spinal tracts were injured by a contusion, rather than by a direct injury as in the second case. Moreover, surgery was required in the second patient to remove the weapon and to stabilize the spine, presenting bony and ligamentous instability.DiscussionThe diagnostic and therapeutic management are debated. An overview on clinical research in sperimental medical treatment of spinal cord injury was considered to evaluate future possible approaches to these injuries.ConclusionsAs the neurologic improvement depends on the type and severity of the spinal cord damage, the indications for acute surgical management are limited and conservative management should be preferred.

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