Penetrating chest injury caused by a rubber bullet in a Republic of Korea Army soldier: a case report
- Author:
Chansin LEE
1
;
Kyungwon LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From: Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2025;15(3):164-169
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Although rubber bullets (RBs) are intended to be nonlethal, they can cause severe injuries under certain circumstances. This case report describes a rare penetrating chest injury in a 21-year-old male soldier who accidentally shot himself at close range with an RB. Upon arrival at the emergency room, computed tomography revealed lung parenchymal injury with hemorrhage and pneumothorax. An emergency thoracotomy with wedge resection was performed to remove the damaged lung tissue and foreign material, namely RB fragments. The soldier recovered and was discharged 17 days after surgery without complications. RBs are radiolucent, making it challenging to determine projectile location and trajectory from imaging alone, which can create a false sense of security regarding the severity of such injuries. Despite their nonlethal classification, RBs can cause fatal injuries; prompt surgical intervention is therefore crucial to achieving a positive outcome.
