title: Retained intra cranial blade - medicolegal perspectives.
abstract: A fatal case of a homicidal penetrating head injury by retained blade of knife is reported. The blade of knife penetrated the skull bone after breaking from a knife handle and remained lodged in the intracranial cavity for 5 days resulting in death from intracranial bleeding and brain oedema. The need of proper and complete examination of the head injury and its medico-legal importance is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Limpopo Province and University of Limpopo (Polokwane Campus), P.O. Box 1944, Polokwane 0700, South Africa. drblkbhootra@yahoo.com
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bhootra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000473:pathology*