Penetrating brain injuries caused by foreign objects: Report of three cases - 06/06/26

Doi : 10.1016/j.aolm.2026.200684

Mohamed Amin Mesrati ^a,⁎ , Kais Mâamri ^b, Taher Sakly ^a, Hedil Zidi ^a, Mehdi Dermoul ^b, Abir Aissaoui ^a

^a Department of Forensic Medicine, Taher Sfar Hospital, Mahdia, Tunisia

^b Department of Neurosurgery, Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia

^⁎ Corresponding author at: Taher Sfar Hospital, Mahdia 5000, Tunisia. Taher Sfar Hospital Mahdia 5000 Tunisia

En prensa. Pruebas corregidas por el autor. Disponible en línea desde el Saturday 06 June 2026

Summary

Background

Penetrating brain injuries (PBIs) caused by non-missile objects are rare but associated with high morbidity and mortality. We report a series of three cases involving distinct mechanisms of injury, knife and wooden stick, highlighting the anatomical and infectious challenges of craniofacial trauma.

Case 1

A 29-year-old male with a transfixing 16-cm knife injury. Death was immediate due to massive intracranial hemorrhage and brainstem involvement.

Case 2

A 25-year-old male with a trans-sinusoidal knife injury. Initial survival was followed by fatal meningitis three months post-injury, secondary to a persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.

Case 3

A 33-year-old male with an orbito-cerebral injury from a wooden stick. Despite surgical extraction, the patient succumbed to septic shock and cerebral abscess formation.

Conclusion

The prognosis of PBI is determined by the trajectory, the nature of the foreign body, and the management of delayed infectious complications. This series emphasizes the necessity of rigorous dural repair and long-term surveillance in surviving patients.

El texto completo de este artículo está disponible en PDF.

Keywords : Penetrating brain injury, Cerebral trauma, Foreign object, Autopsy, Medico-legal implications