Intracranial penetration due to BB air rifle injuries.
The toy BB gun that was commonly available 20 years ago has been modernized into a weapon with lethal potential. We report four children who had intracranial penetration by BBs. Three were shot by another young child, and the fourth child was injured by an intoxicated adult. Two of the children have permanent, severe neurological sequelae. BB rifles should require the same safety precautions and considerations as more traditional firearms.
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery; D006406:Hematoma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*