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Penetrating ballistic-like frontal brain injury caused by a metallic rod

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Summary

Penetrating non-missile intracranial injuries caused by metallic foreign bodies are very rare among the civilian population. We present a unique instance of a severe, high-energy, penetrating orbitocranial injury caused by a solid metallic rod that corresponded to the spray valve lever handle of a kitchen sink pre-rinse spray tap, which was fractured and projected at high speed for an unknown reason. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a high-energy, penetrating brain injury caused by such an object. After careful radiological evaluation of the shape and position of the foreign object, a combined right frontal craniotomy and supraorbital osteotomy was performed in order to achieve safe removal of the metal bar. Successful surgical treatment of an orbitocranial injury caused by a similar object has not previously been reported.

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Acknowledgements

We deeply thank Larry Gavan for providing us with the accurate technical plumbing terms used in this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, La Princesa University Hospital, C/ Diego de León 62, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    J. M. Pascual, M. Navas & R. Carrasco

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  1. J. M. Pascual
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  2. M. Navas
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  3. R. Carrasco
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Correspondence to J. M. Pascual.

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Pascual, J.M., Navas, M. & Carrasco, R. Penetrating ballistic-like frontal brain injury caused by a metallic rod. Acta Neurochir 151, 689–691 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0222-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0222-8

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