title: Penetrating ballistic-like frontal brain injury caused by a metallic rod.
abstract: Penetrating non-missile intracranial injuries caused by metallic foreign bodies are very rare among the civilian population. We present a unique instance of a severe, high-energy, penetrating orbitocranial injury caused by a solid metallic rod that corresponded to the spray valve lever handle of a kitchen sink pre-rinse spray tap, which was fractured and projected at high speed for an unknown reason. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a high-energy, penetrating brain injury caused by such an object. After careful radiological evaluation of the shape and position of the foreign object, a combined right frontal craniotomy and supraorbital osteotomy was performed in order to achieve safe removal of the metal bar. Successful surgical treatment of an orbitocranial injury caused by a similar object has not previously been reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, La Princesa University Hospital, C/ Diego de León 62, 28006 Madrid, Spain. jmpascual@iib.uam.es
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carrasco
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000209:etiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D020202:Cerebral Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003399:Craniotomy; D004868:Equipment Failure; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008670:Metals; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008670:Metals