Skip to main content
Top
Published in: General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 5/2015

01-05-2015 | Case Report

An unusual case of thoracic impalement injury with severe pleural adhesion

Authors: Tetsuya Yokosuka, Toshiko Kobayashi, Michimasa Fujiogi, Masayo Kawakami, Masamichi Yasuno

Published in: General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery | Issue 5/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Thoracic impalement injury is an uncommon form of trauma. In the present report, we describe the case of a 78-year-old man who was injured by 2 metal rods. We decided to remove the rod on the right side by performing video-assisted thoracic surgery. However, during this procedure, total pleural adhesion was identified. Therefore, a mini-thoracotomy was performed and the rod was removed safely; the patient’s postoperative course was uneventful. The rod on the left side did not pass through the thoracic cavity. There are only a few reports of thoracic impalement injury in literature, and cases with total pleural adhesion are very rare. Careful preoperative planning and a multidisciplinary approach are essential for managing this type of injury.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Cartwright AJ, Taams KO, Unsworth-White MJ, Mahmood N, Murphy PM. Suicidal nonfatal impalement injury of the thorax. Ann Thorac Surg. 2001;72:1364–6.CrossRefPubMed Cartwright AJ, Taams KO, Unsworth-White MJ, Mahmood N, Murphy PM. Suicidal nonfatal impalement injury of the thorax. Ann Thorac Surg. 2001;72:1364–6.CrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference Hyde MR, Schmidt CA, Jacobson JG, Vyhmeister EE, Laughlin LL. Impalement injuries to the thorax as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Ann Thorac Surg. 1987;43:189–90.CrossRefPubMed Hyde MR, Schmidt CA, Jacobson JG, Vyhmeister EE, Laughlin LL. Impalement injuries to the thorax as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Ann Thorac Surg. 1987;43:189–90.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Fradet G, Nelems B, Muller NL. Penetrating injury of the torso with impalement of the thoracic aorta: pre-operative value of the computed tomographic scan. Ann Thorac Surg. 1988;45:680–1.CrossRefPubMed Fradet G, Nelems B, Muller NL. Penetrating injury of the torso with impalement of the thoracic aorta: pre-operative value of the computed tomographic scan. Ann Thorac Surg. 1988;45:680–1.CrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference Chui WH, Cheung DL, Chiu SW, Lee WT, He GW. A non-fatal impalement injury of the thorax. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1998;43:419–21.PubMed Chui WH, Cheung DL, Chiu SW, Lee WT, He GW. A non-fatal impalement injury of the thorax. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1998;43:419–21.PubMed
5.
go back to reference Lang-Lazdunski L, Mouroux J, Pons F, Grosdidier G, Martinod E, Elkaim D, et al. Role of videothoracoscopy in chest trauma. Ann Thorac Surg. 1997;63:327–33.CrossRefPubMed Lang-Lazdunski L, Mouroux J, Pons F, Grosdidier G, Martinod E, Elkaim D, et al. Role of videothoracoscopy in chest trauma. Ann Thorac Surg. 1997;63:327–33.CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Manlulu AV, Lee TW, Thung KH, Wong R, Yim APC. Current indications and results of VATS in the evaluation and management of hemodynamically stable thoracic injuries. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;25:1048–53.CrossRefPubMed Manlulu AV, Lee TW, Thung KH, Wong R, Yim APC. Current indications and results of VATS in the evaluation and management of hemodynamically stable thoracic injuries. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;25:1048–53.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
An unusual case of thoracic impalement injury with severe pleural adhesion
Authors
Tetsuya Yokosuka
Toshiko Kobayashi
Michimasa Fujiogi
Masayo Kawakami
Masamichi Yasuno
Publication date
01-05-2015
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery / Issue 5/2015
Print ISSN: 1863-6705
Electronic ISSN: 1863-6713
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-013-0296-3

Other articles of this Issue 5/2015

General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 5/2015 Go to the issue