PMID: 11493828
Issn Print: 0749-5161
Publication Date: 2001/08/01
Traumatic appendicitis: Fact or fiction?
Excerpt
Traumatic appendicitis is a term used to describe appendicitis initiated by an episode of trauma, although it has been extended to include cases in which trauma may have resulted in the progression of smoldering appendicitis. This association is the source of ongoing debate, with many authorities discounting it as a mere coincidence. Of all the case reports on this matter, none is as well known as that of Harry Houdini, who died on Halloween, 1926, from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix. Houdini, the famed magician known for his ability to withstand blows to his abdomen by tensing his abdominal muscles, was hit by a student before he prepared himself while performing in Canada (1,2). Although the information on Houdini is incomplete, it remains the most renowned case of this association. The case presented is another example of this hypothesis and is accompanied by a review of the current beliefs and practice in diagnosing this entity.
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