Jael's syndrome: Removal of a retained intracranial kitchen knife blade - A case report

Jael's syndrome is defined as an intentional injury caused by a knife in the skull or the face. It is a rare yet challenging situation in clinical practice. Initial triage is the key to optimal management.

We describe the case of a right-handed 30-year-old man presenting to the emergency for headaches 15 days after a stabbing attack into the skull using a kitchen knife. He was conscious with no neurological deficit or history of seizures. The wound had already healed. A cerebral computed tomography (CT) scan showed a retained kitchen knife blade. The stab wound extended through the temporal lobe and ended a few centimeters before the brainstem. The blade was removed under general anesthesia. Postoperative follow-up was satisfying without any neurological worsening. The control CT scan showed a remaining knife edge in the bone flap. It was decided to monitor the patient regularly, and he was discharged 3 days later.

This case highlights the medicolegal importance of physical examination and radiological exploration in penetrating head injury.