Migration of a bullet in the lumbar intervertebral disc space causing back pain - Case report

Abstract

A 41-year-old man presented with low-velocity gunshot injury in the right abdomen. Neuroimaging showed the bullet located in the L2-3 intervertebral disc space, but neurological examination found no abnormalities. Exploratory laparotomy was performed because of retroperitoneal hematoma. Two months after the gunshot injury, the patient presented with severe low back pain. Serial neuroimaging showed that the bullet had migrated in the intervertebral disc space. The bullet was removed via right L2 hemilaminectomy. The patient had no complaints after the operation. Early recognition and surgical intervention for bullets embedded in the intervertebral disc space may present with neurological and related complications.