A penetrating dorsal thoracic injury that is lucky from every aspect: A case report.
BACKGROUND
Penetrating thoracic trauma management represents a major problem for emergency department staff. In these cases, we reported a patient, who can be deemed very lucky, because of both the trauma mechanism and the provided first aid at scene.


METHODS
A 30-year-old man was transported to the emergency surgery outpatient clinic after being stabbed from his back. A knife entered thorax from the dorsal region paravertebrally between two scapulae. No vascular and thoracic injuries were detected in the CT. The knife was then pulled and removed, and pressure dressing was applied on the wound. He was discharged with full recovery on the second day of admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracic traumas may present as blunt or penetrating traumas. Trauma with penetrating dorsal thoracic injuries is usually in the form of stabbing, sharp penetrating object injuries, or firearm injuries. The aim of a successful trauma management is to determine whether a life-threatening condition exists. The general rules of penetrating trauma management are to avoid in-depth exploration for wound site assessment, to avoid removal of penetrating object without accurate diagnosis, and to keep in mind the possibility of intubation for airway security in every moment.


CONCLUSIONS
During the initial care of patients with penetrating trauma, the object should not be removed from its place. Our patient was lucky enough in that no thoracic pathology developed during the accident and he was not subjected to any secondary trauma during ambulance transport.
Department of General Surgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: op.dr.mehmetilhan@gmail.com.
Mehmet
M
İlhan
Department of General Surgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ali Fuat Kaan
AF
Gök
Department of General Surgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
Gizem
G
Öner
Department of General Surgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
Kayıhan
K
Günay
Department of General Surgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
Cemalettin
C
Ertekin
Dorsal region injury; Emergency surgery; Penetrating thoracic trauma