Orbital "shanking": a unique prison injury.
The purpose of this paper is to describe orbitocranial penetration due to "shanking", a common mode of assault in prison facilities. We report the case of a prisoner who presented with orbital apex syndrome 5 days after an assault. He died 9 days after surgical removal of the "shank" due to a presumed ruptured traumatic aneurysm. Physicians who evaluate prisoners must maintain a high index of suspicion for penetrating injuries. The entrance site is often inconspicuous and the history may be limited in this unique population.
Whitaker
Todd E.
TE
William H. Havener Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Katz
Steven E.
SE
Lubow
Martin
M