Knife blade penetrating stab wound to the brain--case report--

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2005 Mar;45(3):172-5. doi: 10.2176/nmc.45.172.

Abstract

A 28-year-old man attempted to kill himself with a knife stab into the parietal area. Neuroimaging showed no vascular impairment except slow venous flow around the knife due to tamponading. After obtaining informed consent, the knife was removed through a craniotomy without new brain injury. Postoperative neurological findings showed no deficit. Follow-up angiography revealed no vascular impairment. No infection occurred. Brain stab wounds cause numerous complications, such as intracranial hemorrhage, injury of important vessels, and infections. Minimal blade movement during removal and precautions to prevent massive hemorrhage are essential.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Injuries / etiology
  • Brain Injuries / surgery
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Cerebral Arteries / anatomy & histology
  • Cerebral Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage, Traumatic / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage, Traumatic / prevention & control*
  • Cerebral Veins / injuries*
  • Cerebral Veins / pathology
  • Cerebral Veins / physiopathology
  • Craniotomy
  • Dura Mater / injuries
  • Dura Mater / surgery
  • Head Injuries, Penetrating / complications
  • Head Injuries, Penetrating / diagnostic imaging*
  • Head Injuries, Penetrating / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Parietal Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Parietal Bone / injuries
  • Parietal Bone / pathology
  • Parietal Lobe / injuries
  • Parietal Lobe / pathology
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Skull / diagnostic imaging
  • Skull / injuries*
  • Skull / surgery
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome