Paediatric perineal injury following explosive blast: A Case Report

Abstract

Perineal injury in children is uncommon. Injuries range from minor perineal skin laceration to severe injury to the genitourinary tract, anorectal region and the pelvic bone. The mechanisms of injury are usually attributed to blunt trauma, penetrating injuries like impalement injury, or sexual abuse. Perineal injury resulting from explosive blast in children is rare. The management depends on the time and mode of presentation and examination findings. Early presentation (a few hours after injury) with 1st or 2nd-degree perineal injury may benefit from debridement with primary repair of soft tissues and/or sphincters. Late presentation (days after injury) with 3rd or 4th-degree injury will require diverting colostomy or urinary diversion and wound drainage.

This is a report of an unusual case of severe perineal injury in a child following explosive blast sustained while squatting close to packed explosives that got detonated. The perineal injury was initially managed with colostomy and wound drainage. The colostomy was closed after the wound had healed with good faecal continence achieved and without perineal soft tissue or anal sphincteric repair. It is concluded that severe isolated paediatric explosive blast perineal injury is rare but is amenable to surgical care.