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Intracranial injuries by a screwdriver
Forensic Science International
|December 29, 1995
Summary
Unusual intracranial foreign bodies, like screwdriver fragments, are rare. Despite successful removal, both patients died from secondary brain swelling and arterial injury.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Forensic Pathology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Intracranial foreign bodies are uncommon, with limited reported cases.
- Screwdriver fragments as intracranial projectiles are unprecedented in medical literature.
- This study presents two unique cases involving severe head trauma from screwdriver injuries.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with intracranial injuries caused by screwdriver fragments.
- One case involved a homicide, while the other resulted from an accidental self-inflicted injury.
- Surgical removal of the foreign bodies was successfully performed in both instances.
Findings:
- Despite successful foreign body extraction, both patients experienced fatal outcomes.
- Death occurred 5 and 14 days post-operatively in the respective cases.
- Cerebral ischemia and subsequent edema, secondary to arterial injury, were identified as the causes of death.
Implications:
- Highlights the critical risk of vascular damage and secondary ischemic complications from intracranial foreign bodies.
- Underscores the importance of meticulous surgical technique and post-operative monitoring in managing such severe trauma.
- Emphasizes the potential lethality of unusual intracranial penetrating injuries, even after initial intervention.