Penetrating head injuries, such as gunshot wounds, do not necessarily require surgical treatment in all cases. However, a resulting cerebrospinal fluid leak should be treated surgically as soon as possible to prevent intracranial infections1.
Location
In penetrating head injuries, the frontal lobe is most frequently affected. Breakdown of the locations based on a study from Turkey conducted in 20052:
| Location | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frontal | 33,75 % |
| Temporal | 17 % |
| Parietal | 18 % |
| Occipital | 9,25 % |
| Posterior fossa | 0,25 % |
| Orbitocranial | 8,75 % |
| Multiple locations | 8,75 % |
Complications
Type and frequency of complications following a cranial gunshot wound3:
| Complication | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Meningitis | 50 % |
| Osteomyelitis | 5 % |
| Brain abscess | 25 % |
| Subdural empyema | 7 % |
| Cerebritis | 7 % |
| Ventriculitis | 5 % |
Imaging
References
Book: Neurosurgical Knowledge Update - A comprehensive review. Robert E. Harbaugh et al. Thieme Verlag. ↩ ↩
Coşar, A., et al. "Craniocerebral gunshot wounds: results of less aggressive surgery and complications." min-Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery 48.02 (2005): 113-118. ↩ ↩
Jimenez, Carlos Mario, Jonathan Polo, and Julian Andres España. "Risk factors for intracranial infection secondary to penetrating craniocerebral gunshot wounds in civilian practice." World neurosurgery 79.5-6 (2013): 749-755. ↩ ↩