title: A case of psychosis induced self-insertion of intracranial hypodermic needles causing seizures.
abstract: Self-insertion of foreign bodies is a rare event. This report details a 56-year-old male who had self-inserted six hypodermic needles into his left frontal lobe 6 years previously. He subsequently presented with seizures and went on to have the needles surgically removed. This represents the first case of its type involving hypodermic needles. Given that intracranial needles are a rare finding, the management of such patients is complex. Two management issues in particular that require consideration are: (i) can the needles be left in situ and (ii) does removal of the needles reduce the risk of seizures in the long term?
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia a.chandran@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Arjun S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honeybul