Soft tissue compartment bleed—the iceberg phenomenon: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Hemorrhage control is the essence of trauma care. Conventional teaching is 1 on the floor (ie, external bleeding) and 4 more (thoracic cavity, abdomen, retroperitoneum, and long bones). In this case report, we present a unique case with concealed bleeding into the soft tissue compartment leading to shock. This case triggered to consider the soft tissue compartment as the sixth potential bleeding site in trauma patients in hemorrhagic shock. Case presentation We present the case with concealed bleeding into the soft tissue compartment posing a challenge in management. On presentation, he had a pulse rate of 117 beats/min, a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg, and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9. During resuscitation, the patient's blood pressure dropped to 70/46 mmHg with a GCS of 7 of 15. He was then intubated and reevaluated. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the torso revealed a right scapular fracture with a large soft tissue hematoma along the right side of the neck and chest wall, extending up to the right lumbar region. Conclusion We suggest that the soft tissue compartment is the sixth potential site of internal bleeding in trauma patients, which should not be overlooked after having ruled out the other 5 sites.