Paintball-related traumatic liver injury.
Paintball is a popular recreational sport played at both amateur and professional level. Ocular injuries are well recognised, although there is a growing body of literature documenting superficial vascular as well as deep solid organ injuries. An 18-year-old man presented with signs and symptoms consistent with acute appendicitis. Intraoperatively, a grade III liver injury was identified and packed before a relook at 48 h. No further active bleeding was identified; however, follow-up ultrasound at 3 weeks demonstrated non-resolution of a large subcapsular haematoma. The patient was readmitted for a short period of observation and discharged with repeat ultrasound scheduled for 3 months. This represents the first report of paintball-related blunt traumatic injury to the liver. Solid organ injuries of this nature have only been reported three times previously-all in the urological setting. This case also highlights issues surrounding the use of routine follow-up imaging in blunt liver trauma and provides a concise discussion of the relevant literature.
Department of General Surgery, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK.
Joshua
J
Luck
Department of Radiology, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK.
Daniel
D
Bell
Department of General Surgery, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK.
Gareth
G
Bashir
D000293:Adolescent; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000209:etiology*