The perils of paint-balling
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

System for Focal, Closed-System Central Nervous System Injury
Published on: November 29, 2024
I McKay-Davies1, D Tweedie, L Pitkin
1Department of ENT, Bristol Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK. imd004@gmail.com
Abstract:
While paint-balling a 15-year-old boy was shot on the front of his face guard causing him to hyperextend his neck. Over the next few days he developed neck stiffness and a large painful swelling over his upper left sternocleidomastoid muscle. CT confirmed this to be a haematoma abscess and at operation it was found to originate from the parapharyngeal vessels, extending from the skull base and tracking inferiorly along the carotid sheath, compressing (and partially thrombosing) the internal jugular vein (IJV). After surgical decompression, double-dose low molecular weight heparin and antibiotics, the patient made an uneventful recovery, including recanalisation of his IJV. Delayed cervical haematoma can result in neck space infection and potential airway compromise. Early CT scanning optimises timely intervention, consisting of airway protection, broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage.
Insights
A neck injury from paintballing led to a deep neck infection and swelling. Prompt CT scans and surgical intervention, including antibiotics and anticoagulation, ensured a full recovery and restored blood flow.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Delayed cervical hematomas can lead to serious complications like neck space infections.
- These infections can compromise the patient's airway, necessitating urgent medical attention.
- Vascular injuries, particularly involving the carotid sheath, pose significant risks.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Types of Collisions - II
Deindividuation
Robbers Cave
Impact: Problem Solving
By designating the launch point as the origin and utilizing kinematic equations, the vertical component of the projectile's velocity at the point of impact is...
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...

