Penetrating stab wound of the gluteus--a potentially life-threatening injury: case reports.

Presented are two cases of stab wounds through the gluteus in which serious damage was incurred by internal organs: in one case there was penetration of the rectum with the appearance of signs of acute abdomen; in the other there was tearing of retroperitoneal muscles and the internal iliac vessels with resultant hypovolemic shock. These observations suggest that there should be greater awareness of the life-threatening nature of stab wounds of the gluteus under similar circumstances.