A deer miss

A patient arrived to the emergency department with a right knee injury following a collision with a deer while riding a motorcycle. He was assessed according to ATLS principles and had an isolated knee injury which was initially managed as an open fracture, with co-amoxiclav and a tetanus booster. Radiographs of the knee revealed an unexplained foreign body in the knee, which was removed in theatre and identified as the tip of an antler. The case was discussed with microbiology, and given the high risk of septic arthritis due to contamination with anaerobic organisms, he was switched to ceftriaxone and metronidazole. He recovered well and regained good function. This case highlights the importance of correlating clinical findings with radiographic evidence in the assessment of injuries, and the value of involving the MDT in these atypical cases.