Fatal concealed wound-a rare case report

Stab wound is a common occurrence in homicidal cases when a sharp weapon is used. Fatality in such cases depends on identifying associated injuries and preventing complications. Sometimes the depth of these wounds can be misconstrued because of the formation of peritoneal fat plug, tightly sealing the wound margin. Hereby we present the case of a 20 years old male who succumbed following a stab injury in the abdomen due to internal bleeding. The stab wound was plugged by the abdominal mesenteric fat leading to false measurement while probing and as a result, the stab wound was misinterpreted as a 'simple incised wound'. The fat plug also prevented internal bleeding from being noticed. Delay in appropriate treatment at the right time caused his death. This is a rare case, wherein concealing of the stab wound happened naturally. The usual methods of detection followed in many parts of the country can go wrong in such cases while radiological methods deem useful. Timely identification of this wound as a 'stab wound' could have prevented fatality in this case. Hence a protocol has to be made during assessment and management of injuries to avoid such mishaps.