J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2014 Dec;56(6):537-539. 10.3340/jkns.2014.56.6.537.

Serious Penetrating Craniocerebral Injury Caused by a Nail Gun

• Jeon YH
• Kim DM
• Kim SH
• Kim SW

• KMID: 2191155
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2014.56.6.537

Abstract

Penetrating cerebral injuries caused by foreign bodies occur rarely due to the substantial mechanical protection offered by the skull. Throughout most of history, the brain, residing in a "closed box" of bone, has not been vulnerable to external aggression. Recently, we encountered a serious penetrating craniocerebral injury caused by a nail gun. Total excision of the offending nail via emergency craniotomy was performed, but the patient's neurologic status was not improved in spite of aggressive rehabilitative treatment. Here, we report on this troublesome case in light of a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

Head; Injury; Penetrating

MeSH Terms

Aggression
Brain
Craniocerebral Trauma*
Craniotomy
Emergencies
Foreign Bodies
Head
Skull

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Preoperative simple radiographs show the nail passing through the left parietal calvarium deep to the proximal brainstem.

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  Fig. 2 Preoperative coronal and sagittal computed tomography scans reveal a penetrating metallic nail. Multiple fracture fragments are also observed.

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  Fig. 3 Photograph of the metallic nail after removal.

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