It may be September, but ’tis always the season to reflect on trauma protocols.

One of which is the timely transfer of patients with life-threatening injuries, especially when said patient has been impaled by the ‘trunk’ of a Christmas tree.

According to Clinical Case Reports, the 54-year-old woman had fallen from a stepladder onto the metallic base of her artificial tree. The metallic rod had then penetrated the right buttock and plunged through her pelvis.

However, X-rays and a CT scan with 3D reconstruction were performed prior to transport to ED, delaying surgery.