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Souvenir knife: a retained transcranial knife blade
Neil L Davis1, Tzipi Kahana, Jehuda Hiss
1National Center of Forensic Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel.
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|August 24, 2004
Summary
A rare case of a knife fragment lodged in the skull was discovered incidentally postmortem. This "souvenir knife" was from a prior assault, but not the cause of death.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Forensic Pathology
- Traumatology
Background:
- A case report detailing an unusual postmortem finding.
- Review of literature on retained foreign objects in the skull.
Observation:
- Necroscopic examination revealed a knife fragment lodged in the right parietal skull.
- The fragment had penetrated the cerebral cortex, indicating a severe prior injury.
Findings:
- The metallic blade fragment was an incidental finding, unrelated to the cause of death.
- Police investigation linked the fragment to a stabbing attempt months earlier.
Implications:
- This rare finding prompted the reopening of a prior assault investigation.
- Highlights the importance of thorough necroscopic examination for identifying potentially life-threatening, retained foreign objects.