Citation

Gonya S, Mbatha A, Moyeni N, Enicker B. J. Surg. Case Rep. 2016; 2016(1): e175.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosurgery, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa basilenicker@yahoo.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jscr/rjv175

PMID

26747398

PMCID

PMC4705442

Abstract

Retained garden fork is a rare complication of penetrating cranial trauma. Retained knife blade is the most commonly reported presentation. We report an unusual case of a 30-year-old male patient treated at our institution, who presented with a retained garden fork following a stab to the head, with no associated neurological deficits. Computerized tomographic scan of the brain was performed preoperatively to assess the trajectory of the weapon and parenchymal injury. A craniectomy was performed to facilitate removal of the weapon in the operating theatre under general anaesthesia. Intravenous prophylactic antibiotics were administered pre- and postoperatively to prevent septic complications. The patient recovered well and was discharged home.

Language: en