title: Jejunal tackle: a case report of complete jejunal transection in rugby union.
abstract: Jejunal perforation as a result of blunt abdominal trauma during sport is particularly rare. We are aware of 6 reported cases of jejunal perforation in sport: 1 in hockey, 2 in football (soccer), and 3 in American football. This report presents the case of a 25-year-old professional rugby union player, who presented to an "After Hours" general practice clinic with increasing central abdominal and epigastric pain after a heavy tackle during an international match in New Zealand. Despite suffering complete jejunal transection, the patient continued to play on, only presenting to an After Hours general practice clinic 3 hours after the injury. The case demonstrates the remarkable physiological resilience of professional rugby players and acts as a reminder to maintain a high degree of suspicion for small bowel injury despite normal vital signs in healthy young patients with abdominal pain secondary to blunt trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wakeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male