Document Detail


Unexpected death following single blow to the orbit.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20216306     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Severe brain injury is rare after assault to the head with a fist. Our patient was a 39-year-old white male who was punched in a parking lot. The subject fell on his right head. He did not lose consciousness. The subject was taken to the hospital. On admission, his blood alcohol concentration was 229 mg/dL. A CT scan of the head showed no injury. He was admitted to the detoxification unit. He became sober, and was seen ambulating at 3:30 am. By 5:20 am, he was unresponsive. A CT scan of the head showed that an epidural hematoma had developed over the right temporal lobe. The hematoma was drained. The patient did not recover. EEG confirmed no cerebral activity. At autopsy, the brain was removed, showing that the central brain was liquefied. The skull demonstrated a hairline fracture of the right temporal bone, corresponding to the impact with the sidewalk. Our patient differs from the typical victim of head trauma from assault in that severe brain injury or death is typically rare in assault. Alcohol is reported sometimes to have a neuroprotective effect in head injury. The present case illustrates an extreme conclusion of an otherwise-routine head trauma.
Authors:
Henry J Carson
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology     Volume:  31     ISSN:  1533-404X     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Forensic Med Pathol     Publication Date:  2010 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-12-01     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8108948     Medline TA:  Am J Forensic Med Pathol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  370-2     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Linn County Medical Examiner's Office, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411, USA. hjcmd@earthlink.net
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