An unusual case of fatal suicidal craniocerebral penetrating injury due to a nail gun is described. The victim, a 52 year old joiner experienced in the use of nail drivers, shot himself just above the forehead in the midline, driving the nail through his hypothalamus and midbrain. Death was delayed by nearly 24 hours.
LyonsFR. Industrial nail gun injuries. Med J Aust1983; 2: 483–487.
4.
KarlstromGKjellmanT.Injuries caused by nail gun accidents. Acta Chir Scand1971; 137: 474–477.
5.
LuotonenJ.Intracranial penetration of a nail from nailing gun through cheek and infratemporal fossa. A case report, J Laryngology and Otology1986; 100: 247–250.
6.
NorthJB. Nail gun injuries of the brain. Med J Aust1970; 2: 183–185.
7.
WuWQThamCFDonCL. Craniocerebral injuries from nail gun used in construction industry. Surg Neurol1975; 3: 83–88.
8.
StanbridgeRD. Self-inflicted nail gun injury of the heart and lung: A short report. Injury1982; 14: 285–286.
9.
CelmaNJAMarinMMAEscarioAJArroyaCM. A report of a suicide by means of an electric drill. Acta Medicinae Legalis et Social is1989; 39: 247–249 (Fr).
10.
HartelVPetkovitsTBrinkmannB.Unusual suicides with chain saws. Archiv Fur Kriminologie1989; 184: 168–174.
