Skip to main content
Log in

Non-lethal penetrating cardiac injury from a crossbow bolt

  • Case report
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Crossbow injuries to the thorax are nowadays uncommon. The type of arrowhead used determines not only the form of entrance wound but often the outcome of these injuries. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who attempted to commit suicide by firing a bolt from a sport crossbow into his heart. Although the bolt penetrated the mediastinum causing a deep intraseptal myocardial lesion and the pre-operative diagnostic procedure delayed the necessary operation, the patient survived.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 4 February 1997 / Received in revised form: 17 August 1997

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Besler, K., Kleiber, M., Zerkowski, HR. et al. Non-lethal penetrating cardiac injury from a crossbow bolt. Int J Leg Med 111, 88–90 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050121

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050121

Navigation