Summary
Five patients surgically treated for unusual intracranial foreign bodies are presented. They include representative cases of the three most commonly encountered types of these injuries: industrial accidents, suicidal attempts and the result of criminal assault.
Immediate radiological examination is mandatory because the deceptively small entrance wound is usually in no way commensurate with the large size of the foreign body the presence of which is frequently not suspected. The surgical removal of these foreign bodies requires careful pre-operative assessment to avoid hemorrhages and undue injury to the surrounding normal brain tissue.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ameli, N. O., Alimohammadi, A., Attempted infanticide by insertion of sewing needles through fontanels. J. Neurosurg.33 (1970), 721–723.
Askenasy, H. M., Kosary, I. Z., Braham, J., Sewing needle in the brain with delayed neurological manifestations. J. Neurosurg.18 (1961), 554–556.
Azariah, R. G. S., An unusual metallic foreign body within the brain. J. Neurosurg.32 (1970), 95–99.
Dooling, J. A., Bell, W. E., Whitehurst, W. R., Jr., Penetrating skull wound from a pair of scissors. J. Neurosurg.26 (1967), 636–638.
Fox, J. L., Branch, J. W., Intracranial nail-sets. An unusual self-inflicted foreign body. Acta Neurochir. (Wien)24 (1971), 315–318.
Goald, H. J., Ronderos, A., Traumatic perforation of the intracranial portion of the internal carotid artery with 11 day survival. J. Neurosurg.18 (1964), 401–404.
Jackson, F. E., Schonder, A. A., Cook, R. C.et al., Transorbital, transcranial stab wound. J.A.M.A.215 (1971), 1649–1651.
Mage, S., Sze, K. C., The stud gun—an industrial and public-health hazard. New Engl. J. Med.267 (1962), 1020–1022.
Maltby, G. L., More stud-gun injuries. New Engl. J. Med.269 (1963), 111.
Markham, J. W., McCleve, D. E., Lynge, H. N., Penetrating craniocerebral injuries: Report of two unusual cases. J. Neurosurg.21 (1964), 1095–1097.
North, J. B., Nail-gun injuries of the brain. Med. J. Aust.2 (1970), 183–185.
Reeves, D. L., Penetrating craniocerebral injuries: Report of two unusual cases. J. Neurosurg.23 (1965), 204–205.
Wu, W. Q., Tham, C. F., Oon, C. L., Cranio-cerebral injuries from nail-gun used in the construction industry. Surg. Neurol.3 (1975), 83–88.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bakay, L., Glasauer, F.E. & Grand, W. Unusual intracranial foreign bodies. Acta neurochir 39, 219–231 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01406732
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01406732