Penetrating head injuries caused by unconventional objects such as a nail generate speculation and doubt regarding the manner of infliction. We report a case of a 24-year-old woman alleged to have committed suicide by a fall from height. Autopsy revealed an unprecedented penetrating intracranial injury caused by a nail over the right temporal region, confounding the manner of death. The underlying intersecting pattern of fractures determined the chronological sequence of events. In this paper, we discuss the manner, incidence and pathology of nail injuries to the brain.
KishoreKSahuSBhartiP. Management of unusual case of self-inflicted penetrating craniocerebral injury by a nail. J Emerg Trauma Shock2010; 3: 193–196.
2.
ShenoySNRajaA. Unusual self-inflicted penetrating craniocerebral injury by a nail. Neurol India2003; 51: 411–413.
3.
SonSKangDHKimBH. Incidentally discovered a self-inflicted a nail in the brain of schizophrenia patient. Psychiatry Investig2011; 8: 272–274.
4.
WahabA. Medicolegal aspects of 3 cases of bizarre self-mutilation. Am J Forensic Med Pathol2011; 32: 35–38.
5.
StojanPMiljenMMajaDB. Complex suicide: an unusual case with six methods applied. J Forensic Sci2011; 56: 1368–1372.
6.
AbbasARezaMAshkanK. Multiple nails in the brain an unusual suicidal attempt. Am J Forensic Med Pathol2012; 33: 88–89.
7.
IchinoseNIkawaFOhbayashiN. Multiple penetrating head injury by 8 nails: a case report. No Shinkei Geka2009; 37: 1209–1213.
8.
LeeCSParkKH. Six nails in the head: multiple pneumatic nail gun head injury. Br J Neurosurg2010; 24: 493–494.
9.
ShakirAKoehlerSAWechtCH. A review of nail gun suicides and an atypical case report. J Forensic Sci2003; 48: 409–413.
10.
BeaverACCheathamML. Life-threatening nail gun injuries. Am Surg1999; 65: 1113–1116.
11.
JodatiASafaeiNToufanM. A unique nail gun injury to the heart with a delayed presentation. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg2011; 13(3): 363–365.
12.
ThomasMDSiuK. An unusual cranial injury caused by an industrial nail-gun. Med J Aust1987; 147: 602–603.
13.
Mc CorkellSJHarleyJDCummingsDR. Nail-gun injuries accident, homicide, or suicide?Am J Forensic Med Pathol1986; 7: 192–195.
14.
HeeAMParkSHaK. Gender ratio comparisons of the suicide rates and methods in Korea, Japan, Australia, and the United States. J Affect Disord2012; 142: 161–165.
15.
BhattacharyaAKBhattacharjeeSChattopadhyayS. Deliberate self-harm: a search for distinct group of suicide. Indian J Psychol Med2011; 33: 182–187.
16.
PuppeGTraumatische todesursachen. In: KuttnerR (ed). Gerichtliche Medizin. Zwo lf Vortrage, Jena: G Fischer, 1903, pp. 65–84.
17.
VielGGehlASperhakeJP. Intersecting fractures of the skull and gunshot wounds. Case report and literature review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol2009; 5: 22–27.
18.
MadeaBHenssgeCLockhovenHB. Priority of multiple gunshot injuries of the skull. Z Rechtsmed1986; 97: 213–218.
