
Unusual route of a bullet: From scapula to eye
Author(s) -
Elif Demirkılınç Biler,
Melis Palamar Onay,
Naim Ceylan,
Bilge Yildirim Ceper
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
indian journal of ophthalmology/indian journal of ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1998-3689
pISSN - 0301-4738
DOI - 10.4103/ijo.ijo_84_16
Subject(s) - medicine , scapula , perforation , radiological weapon , computed tomography , poison control , radiology , surgery , medical emergency , materials science , punching , metallurgy
Herein, an awkward case of globe perforation with a bullet-entering from the right posterior scapular region and leaving the body from the right orbit through the eye - is reported. Route of the bullet could be devastating - as it passed through the neck and the maxillofacial region-however by chance no vital damage occurred. Its path was assessed by plain radiography and computed tomography scans. Sometimes prediction of the trajectory is very difficult without additional radiological investigations. Especially, in the case of any high velocity projectile wounding, physician must be aware of the fact that the bullet's course will not be a linear but most probably a complicated one. Prognosis of the injury depends on the path of the bullet or shrapnel fragment, close clinical observation, an open-minded approach, and the multidisciplinary care. Moreover, even the crime investigation might be needed.