Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction after Being Struck on the Chest by a Soccer Ball

Abstract

Blunt chest wall trauma is one of the non-atherosclerotic causes of myocardial infarction. Motor vehicle accident is the most common cause of myocardial infarction followed by sports injuries. Myocardial infarction can occur due to traumatic coronary artery laceration with thrombus formation or dissection. Lethal complications may result if accompanying myocardial infarction is overlooked in patients whose chest pain is considered to be solely related to the localised blunt chest wall trauma by the physician and the patient. Here we present a case of acute anterior myocardial infarction secondary to a blunt chest trauma after being struck on the chest by a soccer ball during a recreational soccer game and review the current literature on the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic myocardial infarction.