# Liver impalement with an antique African iron barbed spear. A case report

## TL;DR

A fisherman suffered a rare liver injury from an antique iron spear, which was successfully removed in surgery.

## Contribution

This is the first documented case of liver impalement by an antique African iron spear used as a fishing tool.

## Key findings

- The spear was successfully removed via hepatotomy.
- The patient recovered well post-surgery.
- Such injuries remain undocumented in medical literature.

## Abstract

Impalement injuries happen when an object penetrates a body cavity or organ and remains in situ. We present a case of a 35-year-old fisherman whose act of violence resulted in the lodging of an antique iron spear in segment V of the liver, which was then referred to our institution on the day after the accident. Despite the challenges posed by patient transfer, diagnosis, resuscitation, and, most importantly, handling in the operating room, the object was successfully removed via hepatotomy, and the patient is now in good health. Impalement by an ancient African iron spear, repurposed as a fishing tool in modern times, remains undocumented in the literature, necessitating reporting and a call for further research by the medical community into managing impalement injuries of varying severity.