The route of a bullet through the chest and its minimal effect: A report of a "lucky" case sustained gunshot-induced penetrating thoracic injury and review of the literature

Abstract

Thoracic trauma due to blunt or penetrating injury is a major cause of hospitalization worldwide, associated with high mortality rates ranging from 15 to 77%. The majority of thoracic injuries requiring surgical intervention are due to penetrating mechanisms of injury such as gunshot wounds, stab wounds, and shotgun wounds. We present a case of a gunshot-induced thoracic trauma with a way of the bullet predominantly through the right lung, managed, despite the extensive course through the chest cavity, fortunately only by tubal thoracostomy. In addition we provide a thorough review of the literature regarding penetrating thoracic traumas, and specifically those caused by gunshots.