Delayed Jejunal Perforation due to Taekwondo Kick: A Rare Case

Aydin Yavuz, Alp Yildız, Hüseyin Göbüt, Kürşat Dikmen, Hasan Bostancı, Aybala Ağaç and Hande Köksal

Department of General Surgery, Yenimahalle Education and Research Hospital, General Surgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey
Department of General Surgery, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

^*Correspondance to: Hande K�ksal 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1664

Abstract

Background: One of the most frequently injured hollow organs following blunt abdominal trauma is the jejunum; however, isolated jejunal perforation is rare.Case Report: A 19 year-old male patient received a blow during taekwondo competition and admitted to emergency department with complaint of abdominal pain. Laboratory work-up and chest X-ray examinations did not reveal any pathology and the patient was discharged with recommendation of analgesics. Two days later, the patient presented to our emergency department with intense abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting with presence of abdominal tenderness, muscular defense, and rebound signs, whereas chest X-ray was completely normal. The patient was examined with computed abdominal tomography (CT), which revealed jejunal perforation. Following proper debridement, primary closure was performed. The patient was discharged on the postoperative 6th day.Discussion: Although isolated intestinal injury after blunt abdominal trauma is extremely rare, it should certainly be considered particularly in cases with persistent abdominal pain. As it is particularly demonstrated in our case, failure to recognize hollow organ damage after blunt abdominal trauma by relying on the initially normal examination findings may lead to delay in the diagnosis for hours and even days as in our case. Considering that delayed diagnosis is an important cause of increased morbidity and mortality, we would like to remind that close follow-up of patients with repeated physical examinations and prolonging the hospital stay time have great benefits even if the initial examinations are normal.

Keywords

Abdominal trauma; Blunt; Jejunal perforation

Cite the article

Yavuz A, Yild?z A, G�b�t H, Dikmen K, Bostanc? H, A?a� A, K�ksal H. Delayed Jejunal Perforation due to Taekwondo Kick: A Rare Case. Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1664.