title: [Fatal crossbow injury in an adolescent].
abstract: The authors present the case of a 14-year-old boy who died while handling a crossbow, which was a gift from a friend's mother. The bolt passed through the right nostril, penetrated the sinus sphenoidalis, the brain stem, the left occipital lobe and the occipital calvaria. Immediately after the accident, the victim was taken to a maximum care hospital. In spite of neurosurgical treatment and intensive care the victim died 4 days later. The case presented demonstrates that crossbows are not suitable as toys for underage persons, as they are deadly weapons which can cause serious penetrating injuries. In Germany, no license is required to buy and/or possess crossbows. In the authors' opinion, legal restrictions on the sale of crossbows and a special training of the users would be reasonable measures to reduce such accidents.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Neurochirurgie des Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hessler
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kluge
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grzyska
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Püschel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001926:Brain Death; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005858:Germany; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D020198:Intracranial Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012086:Reoperation; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054041:Weapons / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery