Rectum perforation after broomstick impalement in a 17-year-old: case report and review

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2013 Apr;29(4):510-2. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0b013e31828a3a3d.

Abstract

Impalement injuries are uncommon, especially in the pediatric population. Because of the rarity of these injuries, physicians may have difficulty recognizing and treating impalement injuries appropriately. Clinical findings are sometimes innocuous, but can be life threatening. Therefore, evaluation of suspected impalement injury should involve careful history and thorough physical examination, even if there is no evidence of trauma to the perineum. We report a very rare case of rectum perforation after transanal introduction of a broomstick with almost no clinical findings. Impalement injuries are difficult to recognize, and severity may not be reflected by their external appearance. To diagnose these injuries in time, it is important to use a well-organized workup.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Foreign Bodies / complications*
  • Foreign Bodies / diagnosis
  • Foreign Bodies / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Perforation / diagnosis*
  • Intestinal Perforation / etiology
  • Intestinal Perforation / surgery
  • Male
  • Rectum / injuries*
  • Wounds, Penetrating / diagnosis*
  • Wounds, Penetrating / etiology
  • Wounds, Penetrating / surgery