An unusual patterned injury from homicidal craniocerebral impalement with a metal chair leg

Abstract

A 26-year-old young man died shortly after he had suffered craniocerebral impalement from a metal chair leg during an affray at an airport bar. At autopsy a 25 mm diameter circular wound was present in the left parietal region with protruding brain tissue. Death was due to craniocerebral trauma from a penetrating injury to the head. Examination of the chair used in the assault showed a metal chair with smeared blood on the front right leg that matched the blood group of the decedent. The fatal wound had been inflicted by the assailant with the victim leaning forward while kneeling on the floor. The assault had produced an unusual circular patterned defect in the left parietal bone with dimensions corresponding to the chair leg. The location of the defect and the use of a chair leg were two very unusual features in this homicide.

Patterned injuries from screwdrivers

“…A screwdriver may be favored more in countries such as Greece where the possession of a concealed knife is illegal, but not a screwdriver [ 4 ]. Such non-projectile penetrating cerebral trauma is rare accounting for only about 0.4% of all head injuries [ 5 , 6 ] and has involved a variety of objects including crochet hooks, a toilet brush handle, an antler, scissors, knitting needles, crossbow bolts, glass, car antennas, crowbars, pitchforks, a chair leg, and umbrella ribs [ 4 , 7 – 10 ]. In attacks with screw drivers, the skull is usually penetrated in areas such as the orbital plates (as in the reported case) and the nasal or squamous temporal bones where the bone is thin [ 4 , 6 ].…”