Penetrating Torso Injury Cause by a Steel Bar

Abstract

A 29-year-old male presented to our emergency department with a penetrating torso injury caused by a sharp and long steel bar. The patient slipped on a big straw pile and was struck on a protruding steel bar. The bar penetrated upward from the right flank to the middle portion of his right chest, and the rest of it was exposed toward his right foot. However, the patient only complained of pain at the right flank, and his vital signs were as follows: blood pressure, 120/70 mm Hg; pulse rate, 74 beats/min; respiratory rate, 26 breaths/min; body temperature, 37.2°C; and oxygen saturation, 98%. His arterial blood gas analysis revealed a pH of 7.38, pCO2 level of 38 mm Hg, pO2 level of 86.3 mmHg, and SaO2 level of 98%. The patient’s chest X-ray did not show any thoracic Fig. 1. Chest AP showing the tip of the steel bar in the right chest area without any hemothorax and pneumothorax Brief Image in Trauma eISSN: 2508-8033 pISSN: 2508-5298