Backstabbing swordfish: a rare cause of traumatic hemiparesis

Abstract

Swordfish attacks on humans are uncommon, with only a few case reports available in the current literature. The authors report the first known case of a penetrating spinal injury from a swordfish, in which the patient presented with a small stab wound and hemiparesis. The presentation of a fisherman with hemiparesis and a harmless-looking stab wound must alert clinicians to the possibility of penetrating swordfish injuries to the spine.

Keywords: CSF leak; penetrating spinal injury; spinal cord injury; swordfish; trauma; traumatic hemiparesis.