Transbasal penetrating traumatic brain injury caused by a rifle rod: A case report

BACKGROUND: Penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a low-velocity object is a rare entity with a potential range of critical complications. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a unique case of a 30-year-old male presenting with penetrating TBI caused by a rifle’s cleaning rod. The rod passes through the left nostril to reach the frontal lobe after transgressing the sella turcica. A cranial computed tomography scan shows the extension of brain damage and the trajectory of the rod with no evidence of an associated vascular injury. Surgical removal of the rifle rod was performed using a transnasal approach by a multidisciplinary with the postoperative course went uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Transbasal penetrating TBI through the nose is an extremely rare entity. This type of head injury carries its own peculiarities that deviate from the classic treatment algorithms.