Citation

Alessi G, Aiyer S, Nathoo N. Br. J. Neurosurg. 2002; 16(4): 381-384.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosurgery, Wentworth Hospital, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of Natal Durban South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12389893

Abstract

We report a unique case of a self-inflicted brain injury using an ingenious home-made gun with spontaneous anterior migration of the intact bullet. On admission, the patient was fully conscious with no neurological deficits. Computed tomography (CT) confirmed a penetrating missile injury with transventricular across midline trajectory and multi-lobe injury with the bullet lodged in the occipital lobe. Serial CT revealed spontaneous version with anterior migration of the bullet from the occipital lobe to finally come to rest in the ipsilateral frontobasal region. The bullet was removed via a left supra-orbital craniotomy. The patient experienced good outcome. Home-made gun injuries, although uncommon today, represent a special form of missile injury with unique low velocity terminal ballistics. As these weapons are seen infrequently today, surgeons should be alerted to their existence as patients with this form of injury usually have a good prognosis if vital brain structures are spared.