Airway Management In Prone Position Following Penetrating Iron Rod Injury In Back: An Anaesthetic Challenge

A 20-year-old male was impaled by the iron rod piercing the gluteal region and coming out diagonally when he fell from height while working at an under-construction two-storey building [Figure 1]. In view of suspected spinal injury, the patient was transferred on a ‘spine board’ in the prone position. On examination, vitals were within normal limits with peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 98%. Cervical spine injury was ruled out by computerised tomography (CT) scan, conducted in prone position. Exact position of the iron rod was marked on the CT scan, as shown in Figure 2 (iron rod was shown to be entering the gluteal region and coming out diagonally).