MANAGEMENT OF TRAUMATIC NAIL GUN INJURY TO CRANIUM, THORAX AND ABDOMEN: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Received 2021-09-20; Accepted 2022-01-10; Published 2022-07-01

Authors

  • Lim Cheng Hong Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Gayathiri Ganesen Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Chen Sue Ann Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Henry Tan Chor Lip Trauma Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
  • Tan Jih Huei Trauma Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
  • Yuzaidi Mohamad Trauma Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
  • Rizal Imran Alwi Trauma Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/jummec.vol25no2.13

Keywords:

Nail gun injury, self-infliction, cranium, abdomen, spine

Abstract

Trivial nail gun injury accounts for an estimated 37 000 clinic and emergency room visits per year. Majority of these superficial nail-gun associated injuries can be treated as an office procedure with local anesthesia. However, cases of deliberate harm and multiple deep penetrating wounds with suspicion of injury to vital organs requires a multidisciplinary team approach. We present a case of deliberate self-harm using an industrial grade nail gun with multiple body site penetration. Outline of the initial assessment, multidisciplinary team management, treatment and patient outcomes are discussed in this case report. Outcomes of nail gun injury vary according to the type, length of nail and site of injury. From literature review, most nail-gun injures had neurological sequalae post treatment. Successful nail removal often is a multidisciplinary team effort with the component of psychiatric evaluation and treatment to prevent further future self-inflicted injuries.

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Published

2022-07-01

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Research article

License

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