Jael's syndrome: Hemostatic management of an impacted knife in the facial site—A case report

Abstract

Key Clinical Message It is essential to take a specific multidisciplinary approach in penetrating maxillofacial traumas; securing the airway, completing the hemodynamic stabilization, and systemic evaluation and consideration regarding the beneficial therapeutic regime. Abstract Jael's syndrome is defined as a deliberate injury caused by a knife to the skull and facial area. This article describes the case of a young male patient with a penetrating knife on the left side of the face following an assault. Due to the high probability of injury to the descending palatine artery, it was decided to make a femoral pathway for catheter angiography in the operation room and have a standby vascular surgeon for selective embolization of the external carotid artery in case of severe bleeding. The treatment plan included removing the foreign body, exploring the wound, suturing, tetanus immunization, and prescribing antibiotics. There was no significant complication in the postoperative period. However, In the 6‐month follow‐up, the patient complained of weakness in the left upper lip and hypoesthesia in the pathway of the left infraorbital nerve. Jael's syndrome can be life‐threatening, so there is a need for accurate initial management performed by a multidisciplinary team to raise the survival rate of these patients.

Keywords

• ambulatory surgery
• case report
• hemostatic
• maxillofacial injuries
• penetrating