Excellent recovery after nonmissile penetrating traumatic brain injury in a child: A case report

BACKGROUND: Nonmissile penetrating traumatic brain injuries (pTBIs) are low-velocity injuries which can be caused by a variety of inflicting tools and represent a rare entity in children. Poor outcome has been attributed with an initial admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of <5, asymmetrical pupil size, and specific initial computed tomography scan findings including brainstem injury. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of an 11-year-old boy who presented to our ER with a GCS of 6 after being assaulted on his head by a 30 cm length metallic tent hook penetrating his forehead reaching down to the central skull base zone. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that following standard recommendations in the management of pTBI which include applying the advanced trauma life support protocol in ER, acquiring the needed preoperative neuroimaging studies, avoiding moving the penetrating object till patient shifted to OR, and finally performing a planned stepwise surgical intervention through craniotomy may yield an excellent functional recovery, especially in children despite an otherwise grave initial presentation and apparently profound brain injury.