To illustrate the common and more unusual patterns of penetrating trauma secondary to stab injuries. To review initial imaging findingsas well asdelayed complications and key features not to miss. To illustrate the role of CT in the management of stab injuries, highlighting the important imaging findings that require urgent intervention.

Penetrating abdominal or thoracic trauma from stabbing can cause significant injury. CT plays an important role in the initial assessment and follow-up of penetrating trauma in haemodynamically stablepatients. The management of unstable patients with evidence of a stab wound should however not be delayed by CT and exploratory laparotomy remains the gold standard in this cohort. Multidetector CT is used to determine which haemodynamically stable patients should proceed to immediate surgery and which can be treated conservatively. Prior to CT review it is important to...

Case 1 A 25 year old male presented to the emergency department with a stab wound to left flank. The patient was haemodynamically stable however, no details regarding weapon type or size or the suspected depth of the wound was provided by the attending clinical team (Fig. 1). Admission CXR demonstrates a fractured 9th rib on the left side, at the woundsite (Fig. 2)suggesting a significant penetrating injury. A CT thorax, abdomen and pelvis was performed which demonstrates a left sided entry wound with a...

Penetrating traumatic injuries result in high morbidity and mortality. We present multiple cases of penetrating trauma from stab injuries, highlighting the common and more unusual patterns of injury on imaging. As illustrated in our case examples, we highlight multiple key learning points to be considered in the evaluation of imaging in penetrating trauma, these include: The importance of image reconstruction inthe attempt to predict the trajectory of the penetrating injury. This will aid in the identification of potential injury sites related to the path of...

Contact Details Dr. Carys Jenkins (Radiology Registrar) Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park Way, Cardiff, United Kingdom CF14 4XW. Email: [email protected] Dr Rwth Ellis Owen Consultant Radiologist.Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park Way, Cardiff, United Kingdom CF14 4XW. Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Wales Dr R Ellis Owen Dr C Parry Dr A Marin Dr A Eynon Dr C Jenkins (radiology registrar)

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