Traumatic Thoracolumbar Projectile With Concomitant Vertebral Body and Aortic Injury

Abstract: Penetrating subdiaphragmatic aortic trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality with studies having reported a 50% - 70% associated mortality. We describe a case of a patient with a subdiaphragmatic aortic injury caused by a 7.4 cm common nail that traversed through his L1 vertebral body into the aorta. His aortic injury was managed jointly with vascular surgery and neurosurgery teams.