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Case Reports
. 2020 Jul 30;9(7):3753-3755.
doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_573_20. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Impaled roadside guardrail in the neck: Case of a failed motorcycle stunt

Ahmad Ozair  1 , Arjumand Faruqi  1 , Yadvendra Dheer  2 , Syed F Abbas  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Impaled roadside guardrail in the neck: Case of a failed motorcycle stunt

Ahmad Ozair et al. J Family Med Prim Care. .

Abstract

Trauma is currently the leading cause of death in the age group 15 to 44 years globally, with road trauma now representing the sixth leading cause of death worldwide. We present a case of a young male, who was brought to the apex trauma centre of the province with a metallic roadside guardrail impaled in his neck up to his oral cavity, which had to be cut to transport him to the hospital. A meticulous local exploration resulted in the successful removal of the spiked guardrail, with no damage to critical structures. We discuss the paradigm changes in and the expertise required for the management of such penetrating neck injuries (PNIs). For family physicians, this case represents one of the wide variety of cases they will be called to help upon and administer prehospital care. Thus, utilization of principles of basic life support, recognition of the severity of road trauma cases, and ensuring urgency of referral by general practitioners are all critical.

Keywords: Helmet; motor vehicle; oral cavity; penetrating neck injury; road trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a and b) Initial presentation of the patient to the trauma centre with impaled roadside guardrail in the neck and oral cavity. The guardrail had been cut near the patient's neck to free him
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Meticulous intra-operative exploration and removal of impaled guardrail was done, with no injury to critical neurovascular structures. (b) Patient after postoperative recovery, is seen holding the removed metal railing
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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