The Uncharted Danger of Living in the Tropics: A Needlefish Impalement of the Sigmoid Colon

Author: Assikin Muhamad ¹ ; Aishath Azna Ali ² ; Firdaus Hayati ¹ ; Andee Dzulkarnaen Zakaria ³
Author Information

1. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
2. Department of Surgery, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Male, Republic of Maldives
3. Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 15200 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
Publication Type:Case Reports
Keywords: Needlefish, penetrating injury, sigmoid colon
From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2020;16(No.3, September):340-342
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Penetrating injury to the abdominal viscera is not uncommon unless when it is caused by marine life. We present a 39-year-old fisherman from a tropical country who had sustained a penetrating injury from a stab wound to the abdomen due to needlefish impalement. He sustained a small perforation of the sigmoid colon during exploratory laparotomy and primary repair was done. Although this incident is rare, there are cases involving seawater activities either for leisure, sport or diving for fishing. We highlight this rare incident and discuss the management plan.
Full text:11.2020my0866.pdf