Management of penetrating thoracic trauma with retained Knife blade: 15-year experience from a major trauma centre in South Africa

Introduction This study reviews our experience with the management a retained knife in the setting of thoracic stab wounds. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at a major trauma in South Africa over a 15-year period from January 2004 to December 2018. Results There were 40 patients, of whom 37 were males (93%). Median age was 24 years; 78% of cases (31 of 40) were a retained knife and 23% (9 of 40) were a retained blade. The locations of the stab wounds were 19 (48%) anterior and 21 (53%) posterior. Plain x-ray was performed in 85% (34) of patients and computed tomography angiography was performed in 85% (34). Six patients had haemodynamic instability and were expedited to the operating room without further imaging. Three of these had cardiac tamponade and three a massive haemothorax. Simple extraction and wound exploration were performed in 58% (23 of 40) of cases and the remaining 43% (17 of 40) required operative exploration and extraction. The operative approach was anterolateral thoracotomy in nine cases, posterolateral thoracotomy in four and median sternotomy in three cases. One patient required extraction and concurrent vertebral laminectomy due to cord compression. Twelve patients (30%) experienced complications (nine wound sepsis and three hospital-acquired pneumonia). There was one mortality (3%). The median length of hospital stay was 6 days. Conclusion Uncontrolled extraction of a retained thoracic knife outside the operating room must be avoided. An unstable patient should proceed directly for operative exploration. For stable patients, cross-sectional imaging will allow for planned extraction in operating room.