‘Whisper from the mitral valve’: delayed diagnosis of traumatic mitral valve regurgitation in an elderly farmer—a case report

This case highlights that traumatic MR, though extremely rare, can occur even after relatively minor trauma in elderly individuals, potentially due to underlying degenerative changes. Clinical signs of acute MR can be obscured by coexisting injuries, and auscultatory findings may only become apparent after these conditions have been treated. While echocardiography is crucial for identifying traumatic valvular dysfunction, its effectiveness can be limited by various factors associated with polytrauma. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is essential to prevent overlooking this potentially life-threatening complication in cases of blunt chest trauma.