"Thunderstruck": penetrating thoracic injury from lightning strike.
Lightning strike victims are rarely presented at an emergency department. Burns are often the primary focus. This case report describes the improvised explosive device like-injury to the thorax due to lightning strike and its treatment, which has not been described prior in (kerauno)medicine. Penetrating injury due to blast from lightning strike is extremely rare. These "shrapnel" injuries should however be ruled out in all patients struck by lightning.
Department of Trauma Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: o.vanwaes@erasmusmc.nl.
Oscar J F
OJ
van Waes
Department of (Paediatric) Cardiothoracic Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Pieter C
PC
van de Woestijne
Department of Trauma Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Jens A
JA
Halm
D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015168:Lightning Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology