Publication

Fatal impalement injury of the head due to a curtain rail

Journal Paper/Review - Apr 25, 2006

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Lauterbach A, Hausmann R, Betz P. Fatal impalement injury of the head due to a curtain rail. Int J Legal Med 2006; 120:380-2.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Int J Legal Med 2006; 120
Publication Date
Apr 25, 2006
Issn Print
0937-9827
Pages
380-2
Brief description/objective

During a dispute, a boy was injured by a curtain rail which penetrated the skull in the left frontal region and led to severe brain injury. Despite intensive medical care, death occurred 10 days later due to malignant cerebral edema. With regard to the question whether the trauma resulted from throwing or pushing, some biomechanical aspects are discussed including individual morphologic findings as well as the kinetic energy required for penetrating the skull. According to the calculated data, we conclude that the velocity necessary for penetrating could be reached by throwing the curtain rail.