Retained Piece of Motorized Wood Cutter Blade Causing Transorbital Intracranial Injury: A Modern Industrial Hazard

Abstract

Penetrating injury of brain is potentially life threatening. Majority of such injury is caused by high-velocity missile injury, unlike to civilian injury being caused by low velocity. Penetrating object getting entry through transorbital route is considered rarer with few published reports in literature. Penetrating objects can be made up of metal, glass, or even wood. Patient can seek medical advice immediately or after some delay. Authors report a case, who rushed to hospital immediately after sustaining injury by broken piece of motorized wooden cutting blades. He underwent surgery for removal of foreign body and tolerated surgery well. Proper elicitation of clinical history, neurological examination, and timely appropriate neuroimaging and expeditious surgical treatment are crucial and can be helpful in generating exceptionally good outcomes despite a major trauma. Pertinent literature is briefly reviewed.

Keywords

retained transorbital metallic blade - anterior skull base - metal blade - penetrating injury

Note

This study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosciences Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.

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