Abstract
Background: Penetrating injuries following assault has been reported from several parts of
the globe, and rising incidence in knife crime per year has been described in the United
Kingdom accounting for 12% of major trauma calls. The study reported the unusual
presentation of extruding retained broken knife following a knife stab injury.
Methods: A descriptive study (case report) was carried out using information from the
patient’s case notes.
Case Presentation: A 21-year-old male had a knife stab injury at the left lower back 5 weeks
earlier following a fight with his “friend”, and presented with extruding metal object from the
left side of the chest wall. The systems examination essentially revealed the presence of healed
scar (entry wound) located at the posterior left lower thoracic region; a foreign object (broken
knife) protruding from the left lower lateral side of the chest wall (exit wound); there was
scanty yellowish discharge at the exit site associated tenderness, induration extending from
entry to exit sites. Examination of the chest and abdomen revealed normal findings. The chest
radiograph showed presence of metallic object in the soft tissue beneath the skin. Diagnosis
made was foreign body extrusion secondary to knife stab injury, and patient subsequently had
wound exploration and foreign body removal.
Conclusion: There was failure of conflict resolution among two friends, and a missed
diagnosis of retained foreign body in the subcutaneous tissue of this patient. Introduction of
conflict resolution modules in our schools and trauma update courses among our young
practicing physicians may improve the quality of care of patients with chest trauma