Unusual cervical spine injury by fishing harpoon.
Modern fishing and hunting weapons are powerful and capable of causing severe tissue damage, similarly to gunshot wounds. The principles of management after fish harpoon penetrating injuries include primary basic life support, followed by trajectory surgical removal and wound care. Clinicians should know about the structures and the mechanisms of fishing harpoons and how to manage these injuries to avoid fatal complications. Lesions to the neck produced by underwater fishing harpoon, are extremely rare. Herein we describe a case of an unusual injury of cervical spine by fishing harpoon, and we discuss the appropriate management.
Mouzopoulos
George
G
First Orthopaedic Department of Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece. gmouzopoulos@yahoo.gr
Tzurbakis
Mathaios
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000628:therapy*