Miraculous Recovery After Penetrating Trauma to the Mediastinum

Allen Mao; Hunaid N Rana; William Janika Brackett; Suzy Figarola; Samuel McQuiston

doi:10.7759/cureus.11106

Miraculous Recovery After Penetrating Trauma to the Mediastinum

Cureus. 2020 Oct 23;12(10):e11106. doi: 10.7759/cureus.11106.

Authors

Allen Mao¹, Hunaid N Rana², William Janika Brackett², Suzy Figarola², Samuel McQuiston²

Affiliations

¹ Radiology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine/USA Health University Hospital, Mobile, USA.
² Radiology, USA Health University Hospital, Mobile, USA.

Abstract

Traumatic injury to the mediastinum can damage critical surrounding structures, including the pericardium, aorta, and bronchial tree. We highlight a miraculous case of a 13-year-old female with no past medical history who presented to the emergency department after being impaled in the chest by a metal fence post. After median sternotomy, the foreign object was removed, and the patient fortunately recovered with no permanent sequelae. The radiographic features of the injury are described, and potential unseen cardiovascular and respiratory complications are discussed.

Keywords: foreign body; mediastinum; penetrating trauma.

Publication types

Case Reports