TITLE:
Impalement Injury to the Thoracic Spine and Lung (A Case Report)
AUTHORS:
Ndubuisi Ebere Duru, Uto Essien Adetula, Blasius Okwara, Ifeanyi Anichi
KEYWORDS:
Impalement Injury, Knife, Thoracic Spine, Lung
JOURNAL NAME:
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine,
Vol.14 No.9,
August
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Impalement injury to the thoracic spine and lung is very rare. We report a case of an older child with impalement injury to the thoracic spine and penetration into the right lung that was successfully managed in our hospital. Case Report: We present a case of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed with a bread knife at the back during a family dispute at the level of T5 vertebra. The blade was lodged in the spine as the handle broke off completely. X-ray and CT scan results showed the tip of the knife was lodged in the right lung. Successful removal of the impaled object was achieved via a posterior spinal approach, and a chest tube was passed in the right pleural cavity. The patient had neither neurological deficit nor pleural effusion in the post-operative period. Conclusion: Impalement injury to the posterior spine and lungs is rare and presents a management challenge. Proper patient evaluation is important for planning and teamwork with other specialists is crucial for a successful outcome.