Intra-abdominally retained knife following lower thoracic stab wound: a potential hazard

A patient presenting with a left thoracic stab wound causing pneumothorax and treated with a chest tube is presented. A chest X-ray barely revealed the base of an unsuspected, completely retained intra-abdominal knife. Although the elimination of routine abdominal X-ray in the evaluation of patients with abdominal and lower thoracic stab wounds has been recommended, attention should be given to the fate of the stabbing implement and in unclear cases plain X-ray should be obtained to detect completely retained and potentially hazardous stabbing implements.