Transclival penetrating injury

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Penetrating cranial trauma presents unique surgical challenges.
• Retained foreign objects in the skull require careful management to prevent further injury.

Observation:

• A case involving a stab wound to the cranium with a retained knife blade is detailed.
• The knife blade followed an unusual trajectory through the skull base into the posterior fossa.
• The blade was in close proximity to the basilar artery.

Findings:

• Despite the blade's proximity to the basilar artery, blind removal was deemed safe.
• The patient underwent successful extraction of the retained knife blade.
• Postoperative assessment revealed no neurological deficits in the patient.

Implications:

• This case highlights the possibility of safe removal of deeply retained cranial foreign bodies.
• It underscores the importance of meticulous surgical judgment in managing complex head trauma.
• Successful outcomes are achievable even with high-risk retained intracranial objects.