Gunshot wounds to the spine as evaluated by CT-scanning. Two illustrative case reports.

Two patients with gunshot wounds to the thoracic and lumbar spine were evaluated by A-P and lateral CT-scoutviews followed by axial CT-investigation. The combination of both CT modes is the investigative technique of choice for this type of injuries to assess the presence and topography of bone damage, metallic foreign bodies and associated intracanalar, paravertebral and intra-abdominal soft tissue lesions causing only minimal mobilization to the patient.