Recovery of volitional movement with epidural stimulation after "complete" spinal cord injury due to gunshot: A case report and literature review.

Background: Epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS) restores volitional movement and improves autonomic function after nonpenetrating and traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). There is limited evidence of its utility for penetrating SCI (pSCI).

Case Description: A 25-year-old male sustained a gunshot wound (GSW) resulting in T6 motor/sensory paraplegia and complete loss of bowel and bladder function. Following eSCS placement, he regained partial volitional movement and has independent bowel movements 40% of the time.

Conclusion: A 25-year-old pSCI patient who, following a GSW resulting in T6-level paraplegia, sustained marked recovery of volitional movement and autonomic function following eSCS placement.