Penetrating TBI

Synonyms

Brain injury; Head trauma; Open head injury

Definition

A penetrating head injury occurs when an object pierces through the skull, enters the brain tissue, and may or may not exit. It is often referred to as an open injury.

Current Knowledge

Causes

The amount of damage is typically determined by the impact or velocity of the object that enters the brain. Many penetrating head injuries are caused by puncture wounds, missile fragments or shrapnel, or low-velocity bullets. These types of injuries are more likely to produce focal lesions and can typically have more predictable outcomes. Such injuries typically occur in war and military settings. Penetrating injuries can also cause shock waves and exert pressure throughout the brain tissue, causing more global damage.

Pathophysiology

In missile injuries, air is compressed in front of the penetrating object causing an explosive effect as the fragment enters the brain tissue. It typically causes injury not only at the location it has...