MRI findings in spinal cord penetrating injury: three case reports.

Stab wounds of the spinal canal are rare and constitute an uncommon cause of spinal cord injury. They are usually responsible for an immediate neurological deficit that requires emergency therapeutic management to minimize the extent of neurological deficit and to prevent further loss of neurological function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to evaluate damage to the spinal cord, including contusions, hematoma and compression of extramedullary origin. We report the MRI findings in three patients admitted for spinal canal penetrating injury with neurological symptoms.