Citation

Muzumdar D, Higgins MJ, Ventureyra EC. Childs Nerv. Syst. 2006; 22(4): 398-402.

Affiliation

Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8 L1, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00381-005-1200-y

PMID

16096718

Abstract

CASE REPORT: An unusual case of an intrauterine penetrating head injury due to a pellet from an airgun is described. A 28-year-old pregnant woman, at term, shot herself intravaginally with a toy BB gun. Following a spontaneous precipitous vaginal delivery, the neonate presented with persistent seizure disorder, meningitis, cerebritis, and a right parietal region scalp swelling. Imaging studies revealed intracranial hemorrhage, and the metallic pellet was adjacent to the right lateral ventricle, which was removed through a parietal craniotomy. Computed tomography of the brain after 1 week demonstrated early abscess formation in the left frontal operculum and a subdural empyema in the posterior fossa. The abscesses were evacuated, and the meningitis was treated vigorously with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Although well for the past 6 years, the child demonstrates significant mental handicap and developmental delay. DISCUSSION: The pathogenesis, management, and medicolegal issues pertaining to the above case are discussed, and the relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Language: en