Penetrating Vertebral and Spinal Trauma Complicated by Meningitis in a 2-year-old Child: A Rare Clinical Case

The selection of a treatment approach for a 2-year-old child with penetrating vertebral and spinal trauma, complicated by meningitis, is presented here. This pathology occurs rather rarely, which complicates the development of a uniform approach for the management of such patients. After surgical treatment of the wound in the lumbar region at L5-S1 level due to trauma, the leakage of a transparent discharge had been observed, the nature of which was unclear; it was considered at this treatment stage to be injury to the right ureter. The secondary surgical treatment of the wound was performed with local flap grafting, external lumbar drainage, and antibacterial therapy. The described treatment approach led to the involution of the main symptoms, and normalization of cerebrospinal fluid indicators resulting in an improvement in the child's condition. The represented supervision certifies that the penetrating wound does not always require laminotomy.