A case of a penetrating injury of the gall bladder due to a knife wound in a nine year old boy.

CASE REPORT The patient, M.M., a nine year old boy was admitted to Ards Hospital on the evening of 25th January, 1964, at 9.30 p.m. An hour previously he had been running along a wall, a few feet above the ground, when he tripped, fell and landed doubled up on the ground. In his right hand trouser pocket he had a knife six inches long, the blade of which was pointing upwards. The point of the knife stuck into his right upper abdomen. He pulled out the knife himself and ran home. He was seen by a medical practitioner and as the wound appeared superficial two sutures were inserted. He wvas then transferred to Ards Hospital for observation. On admission he was a healthy looking, co-operative boy of nine years. His pulse was 84 beats per minute. Blood pressure 130/80 mm. of mercury and temperature 97°F. There was a transverse wound, 2 cms. long, below the right costal margin. Two sutures had been inserted. Slight tenderness and rigidity were present in the right hypochondrium. The rest of the abdomen was normal to palpation and bowel sounds were present. Other symptoms showed no abnormality. In view of the slight upper abdominal tenderness, rigidity and the possibility of intraabdominal injury, exploration of the wound was undertaken.