Self-Inflicted Orbital and Intracranial Injury With a Retained Foreign Body Associated With Psychotic Depression: Case Report and Review

Department

neurosurgery

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Reports of intracranial self-multilation by psychotic individuals are associated with severe mental disorders, criminality, or both. We describe a psychotically depressed male who drove a ballpoint pen through his right medial canthus and into his intracranial compartment. The patient developed a cavernous sinus syndrome and a traumatic dissection of the cavernous portion of the carotid artery. The pen was removed intraoperatively. Postoperatively, the patient was placed on a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications, and he has received long-term psychiatric follow-up. The literature related to these unusual cases is reviewed, and relevant surgical, medical, and psychiatric aspects of treatment are discussed. © 1993.

Publication Date

1993

Publication Title

Surgical Neurology

ISSN

0090-3019

Volume

40

Issue

6

First Page

499

Last Page

503

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/0090-3019(93)90054-5

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