Citation

Delikoukos S, Mantzos F. Emerg. Med. J. 2007; 24(5): 355-356.

Affiliation

Surgical Clinic, Halkis General Hospital, Greece. morfula@otenet.gr

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/emj.2006.044115

PMID

17452705

PMCID

PMC2658486

Abstract

A rare case of thyroid storm induced by thyroid gland injury because of penetrating neck trauma is reported. The injury was because of a spear fishing-gun trident impaction in the neck. The diagnosis of thyroid gland injury was suspected by preoperative clinical examination and established during neck exploration in the theatre. The gland injury led to thyroid storm owing to the rupture of acini and liberation of T4 into the bloodstream. Withdrawal of the impacted trident along with subtotal thyroid lobectomy and repair of soft tissue damage in addition to supported treatments, which corrected the hyperthyroid state, led to uneventful recovery.

Language: en