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Facio-cervical transfixion by a metallic rod: a case report
S Shetty1, S Gupta, Balasubramanya
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore-560 034, India.
American Journal of Otolaryngology
|April 3, 2001
Summary
A rare case of a metallic rod penetrating the face and neck without neurovascular or aerodigestive tract injury was successfully treated. Surgical extraction of the foreign body led to complete recovery without neurological deficits.
Area of Science:
- Trauma surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Penetrating neck injuries pose significant risks of neurovascular and aerodigestive tract damage.
- Facio-cervical transfixion by a foreign body is exceptionally uncommon, especially without associated severe injuries.
Observation:
- A patient sustained a road traffic accident with a metallic rod traversing the tongue, pharynx, and neck, causing a maxillary fracture.
- The impacted hollow metallic rod remained in situ for 5 hours before presentation.
Findings:
- Surgical exploration under general anesthesia, following a tracheostomy, enabled the successful and uneventful extraction of the metallic rod.
- The patient experienced a complete postoperative recovery with no residual neurological deficits.
Implications:
- This case highlights a successful management strategy for rare and complex facio-cervical transfixion injuries.
- Clinical examination, including assessment of superficial temporal artery flow, can guide decisions regarding the necessity of angiography in select trauma cases.