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Knife wound to the posterior fossa in a child
Avinash L Mohan1, Michel Slim, Deborah L Benzil
1Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Background:
Knife wounds to the posterior fossa are a rare occurrence, especially in children. We report an 8-year-old girl who sustained a penetrating knife injury through the occipital bone into the posterior fossa. On presentation, the large knife blade was firmly embedded in her head.
Methods:
Radiographic evaluation was limited to plain X-rays because of the large size and sharpness of the embedded blade. Innovative positioning was used during intubation and then the patient was positioned semi-prone on the operating room table. The blade was surgically removed and the dura was closed.
Conclusions:
Atypical penetrating cranial injuries in children may require the treatment team to take a creative approach to the evaluation and repair of the lesion in order to maximize patient safety and minimize the risk of neurological injury.
