An unusual case of orbito-frontal rod fence stab injury with a good outcome.
BACKGROUND
High-energy non-missile penetrating injuries (stab injuries) account for a small percentage of penetrating head injuries and they present a series of special features.


METHODS
A 35-year-old man suffered orbito-frontal? and trans-cranial injuries after falling five meters from a terrace onto a rod iron fence. The removal of the metal rod was performed outside the operating room. The orbital roof was exposed and repaired through a bifrontal craniotomy and the frontal sinuses were cranialised. The orbital floor and zygoma were plated with micro-screws.


CONCLUSIONS
The patient recovered without significant complications, apart from a slight paresis of the right superior rectus; the ocular globe remained intact.The positive outcome obtained in this very challenging case is attributable to the competency of the Neurotrauma Unit and to the use of a synergistic approach which involved the contribution of neurosurgeons, maxillo-facial surgeons, radiologists and anaesthesiologists.
Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy. fabio.degiorgio@rm.unicatt.it.
Massimo
M
Miscusi
Paolo
P
Arangio
Luca
L
De Martino
Fabio
F
De-Giorgio
Piero
P
Cascone
Antonino
A
Raco
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D003399:Craniotomy; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*