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Three patients presented with rare intrasacral extradural arachnoid cysts manifesting as sensory deficiencies and pain in the lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging with various sequences identified the cysts. Two patients underwent surgery via laminectomy of the sacrum for cyst exploration and disconnection of the cyst with the dural theca. Postoperative outcome was favorable in these two patients. Intrasacral extradural arachnoid cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of low back pain.

A 32-year-old man presented with a combined penetrating stab injury of the spinal cord and the aorta caused by a knife wound in his back at the low thoracic level. The knife had broken, and part of the blade had been retained in the wound, passing through the spinal canal and into the aortic lumen. The patient was treated in two steps: the aorta was repaired by a thoracotomy, then spinal exploration was carried out through a laminectomy. Because of the tamponade effect of the foreign body, it was necessary to delay removal of the blade until vascular control had been achieved. Any sign of a penetrating body passing through the spine should suggest careful evaluation to detect any visceral injury, and multidisciplinary treatment should be planned.