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Transorbital penetrating brain injury caused by a toy arrow: a case report
E Paucić-Kirincić1, I Prpić, M Gazdik
1Department of Pediatrics Children's Hospital Kantrida, Rijeka, Croatia.
Insights
A 9-year-old boy survived a rare transorbital brain injury from a toy arrow. Despite treatment, he experienced lasting neurological and cognitive deficits, highlighting risks of recreational injuries.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Traumatology
Background:
- Transorbital penetrating brain injuries are rare, especially in children.
- Recreational activities pose unique environmental risks for pediatric brain trauma.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old boy presented with coma (Glasgow Coma Scale 6), right hemiparesis, and a prolapsed eye after a transorbital toy-arrow injury.
- Initial assessment revealed intracranial hemorrhage and orbital wall fracture, managed conservatively.
- The injured eye was enucleated due to severe trauma.
Findings:
- The patient exhibited persistent neurological deficits, including latent right hemiparesis, six months post-injury.
- Cognitive disturbances were identified through psychological testing.
- Literature review found no similar pediatric cases of transorbital toy-arrow brain injury.
Implications:
- This case underscores the need for vigilance regarding emerging environmental risks and recreational brain injuries in children.
- Continuous monitoring and preventative strategies are crucial to mitigate such pediatric trauma.
Abstract:
A case of a 9-year-old boy with a transorbital toy-arrow injury to the brain is presented. At admission he was in coma (Glasgow Coma Scale of 6) with right hemiparesis and had a completely prolapsed left eye. Computerized tomography revealed intracranial haemorrhage and fracture of the orbital wall, which were treated conservatively. His left eye was enucleated due to massive injury. At the 6-month check-up the boy still show neurological signs of latent right hemiparesis. Disturbances, mostly cognitive, were noted on his psychological tests. A survey of the literature reveals no report of this nature in the paediatric age group. The necessity of continuous monitoring of new environmental risks as they occur, and the requirement for the prevention of recreational brain injuries in children, is stressed.
