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Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2016; 13(02): 104-106
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1586217
Case Report
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Attempted Suicide with Needle Penetration through Cranial Defect: A Rare Case Report

Sajad Hussain Arif
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
,
Uday Singh Raswan
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
,
Masood Laharwal
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
,
Altaf Umar Ramzan
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

01 May 2016

21 June 2016

Publication Date:
26 July 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Intracranial foreign bodies are usually secondary to penetrating injuries through the orbit, ear, or cranial bones. Nails, knives, screwdrivers, sewing needles, bullets, and shrapnel have been described related to penetrating brain injury (PBI). The majority of deaths from trauma reflect unintentional accidents, but a significant minority follow suicide and even a smaller proportion (less than 10%) reflect homicide. Self-inflicted injuries among psychiatric patients are not uncommon. We report a rare case of a 35-year-old woman who tried to commit suicide by inserting a needle in her brain through cranial defect. Needle was removed and patient recovered uneventfully. Awareness of the psychological condition and suicide precautionary measures should be kept in mind in all cases of self-inflicted PBI patients.

Keywords

penetrating brain injury - needle - suicide - cranial defect
 

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