Imaging assessment of penetrating craniocerebral and spinal trauma.
Craniocerebral and spinal penetrating trauma, which may be either missile (most typically gun-related) or non-missile (most typically knife-related), is becoming an increasingly common presentation to the urban general and specialized radiology service in the UK. These injuries carry significant morbidity and mortality with a number of criteria for prognosis identifiable on cross-sectional imaging. Potential complications can also be pre-empted by awareness of certain neuroradiological features. Not all of these injuries are criminal in origin, however, a significant proportion will be, requiring, on occasion, provision of both ante-mortem and post-mortem radiological opinion to the criminal investigative procedure. This review aims to highlight certain imaging features of penetrating craniocerebral and spinal trauma including important prognostic, therapeutic, and forensic considerations.
Offiah
C
C
Department of Neuroradiology, The Royal London Hospital, Barts and The London NHS Trust, Whitechapel, London, UK. curtis.offiah@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
Twigg
S
S
D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000175:diagnosis