Presentation
TASER barb stuck in neck. Is there injury to the trachea/larynx?
Patient Data
Barbed metallic foreign body representing a TASER dart in the prelaryngeal soft tissue. Specifically, directly anterior to the cricoid cartilage. No evidence of injury to deeper structures.
On the inverted image, a short portion of remnant wire is seen.
Case Discussion
TASERs are increasingly - and controversially - used by security forces worldwide. This is notable in the UK, where the police are not routinely armed.
Usually the dart is targeted to, and lodges in, the torso. However there are many case reports of them ending up elsewhere, sometimes with tragic consequences 1. Fortunately in this case there was no deep soft tissue penetrating injury and, as far as I know, no local electrical injury.
Thanks to Dr Chris Carr, Consultant Radiologist, for sharing this case with me.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.