Kakooza J, Akankwasa P, Mugabe S, Kiadii BK, Lewis CR. Blunt esophageal injury in a pediatric patient: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(9): 118553 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i9.118553]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Catherine R Lewis, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, St. Joseph’s Hospital Kitovu, P.O. Box 524, Masaka, Uganda. cathymdphd@gmail.com
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Surgery
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Case Report
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Mar 26, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 27, 2026
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World Journal of Clinical Cases
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2307-8960
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Kakooza J, Akankwasa P, Mugabe S, Kiadii BK, Lewis CR. Blunt esophageal injury in a pediatric patient: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(9): 118553 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i9.118553]
World J Clin Cases. Mar 26, 2026; 14(9): 118553 Published online Mar 26, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i9.118553
Blunt esophageal injury in a pediatric patient: A case report
Jackson Kakooza, Prosper Akankwasa, Samuel Mugabe, Barbara Kauna Kiadii, Catherine R Lewis
Jackson Kakooza, Samuel Mugabe, Department of Surgery, Kampala International University Western Campus, P.O. Box 71, Ishaka Bushenyi, Uganda
Prosper Akankwasa, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University Western Campus, P.O. Box 71, Ishaka Bushenyi, Uganda
Barbara Kauna Kiadii, Department of Public Health, Kampala International University Western Campus, P.O. Box 71, Ishaka Bushenyi, Uganda
Catherine R Lewis, Department of Surgery, St. Joseph’s Hospital Kitovu, P.O. Box 524, Masaka, Uganda
Catherine R Lewis, Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, United States
Author contributions: Kakooza J and Lewis CR contributed to conceptualization; Kakooza J, Akankwasa P, Mugabe S, Kiadii B, and Lewis CR contributed to manuscript writing, editing, and data collection; Lewis CR contributed to supervision. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the guardian of the patient for operative and medical intervention, along with publication of any reports and images for educational purposes as per hospital policy.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Catherine R Lewis, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, St. Joseph’s Hospital Kitovu, P.O. Box 524, Masaka, Uganda. cathymdphd@gmail.com
Received: January 6, 2026 Revised: February 5, 2026 Accepted: March 3, 2026 Published online: March 26, 2026 Processing time: 78 Days and 4.7 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Esophageal injuries are rare but potentially life-threatening conditions, particularly in the pediatric population. These injuries can be classified as blunt or penetrating, with penetrating trauma being more common overall, though blunt mechanisms predominate in certain contexts such as road traffic accidents. Pediatric cases differ from adults in terms of etiology, injury severity, and outcomes, often presenting unique management challenges due to anatomical and physiological differences.
CASE SUMMARY
A 7-year-old girl presented to the outpatient department following a motorcycle accident. A large, open wound was noted on the left side of the face, and the patient was taken to the operating theater for wound washout and closure. Upon further inspection, the patient was noted to have a perforation of the cervical esophagus. The injury was closed primarily, and the skin was then closed in layers. The patient’s diet was advanced as tolerated, and she was discharged home on postoperative day 2 without any complications.
CONCLUSION
Blunt traumatic esophageal injuries are rare in children. Early repair is necessary to achieve favorable outcomes.
Core Tip: Traumatic esophageal injuries are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all traumatic injuries. Esophageal injuries are even more rare in the pediatric population. While penetrating esophageal injuries are more common in adults, children are more likely to have blunt esophageal injuries, particularly from transportation-related accidents. Here, we report the successful management of a cervical esophageal perforation in a pediatric patient.
