[Visual impairment following a suicide attempt with a crossbow]
Froukje A Feenstra1,2, Laura Aggenbach1, Gijs Rijtema3
1UMCG, Afd. Chirurgie, Groningen.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|February 20, 2020
Summary
A penetrating brain injury from a crossbow resulted in Bálint's syndrome, a condition affecting visual-spatial abilities. This case highlights the syndrome's symptoms and neuroanatomical basis following severe head trauma.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Bálint's syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by ocular apraxia, dorsal simultanagnosia, and optic ataxia.
- It typically results from bilateral parieto-occipital brain damage due to various causes.
Observation:
- A 39-year-old male presented with penetrating brain injury after a suicide attempt involving a crossbow.
- Imaging revealed an arrow traversing the left parietal and occipital cortex, with the tip lodged in the right parietal bone.
Findings:
- Following surgical removal of the foreign object, the patient exhibited persistent visuospatial deficits consistent with Bálint's syndrome.
- Neurological and neuropsychological evaluations confirmed the presence of ocular apraxia, dorsal simultanagnosia, and optic ataxia.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for severe, localized brain trauma to induce complex neurological syndromes like Bálint's.
- Understanding the patho-anatomy and clinical presentation is crucial for diagnosis and management of such injuries.
- Further research into neuro-rehabilitation strategies for Bálint's syndrome is warranted.
