Cranial nerve palsy as a delayed complication of attempted infanticide by insertion of a stylet through the fontanel. Case report.
A child suffered a sixth and seventh cranial nerve palsy due to intracerebral insertion of a stylet. The stylet was introduced through the anterior fontanel, most probably in an attempt at infanticide. The migration of the stylet through the brain was monitored because the child was first examined 6 years earlier. At operation the cranial part of the stylet lay in the fourth ventricle, compressing the facial nerve as well as the nucleus of the abducens nerve. The lower part of the stylet had reached the C-5 level.
Notermans
N C
NC
Department of Child Neurology, State University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Gooskens
R H
RH
Tulleken
C A
CA
Ramos
L M
LM
D020222:Abducens Nerve Injury; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007237:Infanticide; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography