Penetrating Injuries of the Brain

Abstract

Penetrating injuries of the brain are responsible for a significant number of morbidity and mortality whether in times of war or peace.

The term penetrating is frequently used to designate missile wounds of the brain.

Penetrating brain injuries are sustained in military or civilian life, differences occur in intensity of destructive force, reflecting variations in missile velocity and in the interval from trauma to treatment. Rapid transport to centers where definitive care may be rendered is essential.

Neurological deterioration occurs rapidly, and the results are largely dependent on the patient's neurological state at the time of management.

There is a great deal of difference in the optimal management of missile injuries sustained in a war and those sustained in civilian life. In civilian the wounded can be rapidly evacuated to a fully staffed, fully equipped hospital with all the necessary services and can be operated on within 2 hours of wounding.

Now with the development and availability of modern neuroradiological imaging, a less aggressive surgical approach thorough scalp, bone and brain debridment with removal of bone and