Case report of delayed treatment of Jael’s syndrome: knife blade retained in maxillofacial region for 2 years

Abstract

Abstract Reports on Jael’s syndrome, characterized by intentionally inflicted knife wounds to the craniofacial region, are scarce. A 41-year-old man presented with a retained knife blade in the maxillofacial region 2 years after an assault. The prolonged delay in treatment resulted from his incarceration after the injury. Clinical evaluation revealed a stab wound penetrating from the right inferior orbital rim through the nasal septum into in the left maxillary sinus. Exploratory antrostomy and dacryocystorhinostomy were performed for knife blade removal with an uneventful postoperative course. This study reviewed the existing literature and examined strategies for addressing retained knife blades in the craniofacial area. Most cases involving acute knife wounds underwent urgent surgical intervention. This case underscores the importance of a comprehensive assessment for retained blades in deep stab wounds. Despite a 2-year delay in treatment, simple extraction performed in this case had no adverse effects on the outcome during 9 months of follow-up.