縫針穿刺による外傷性脳幹障害の1例

A Case of Brainstem Trauma clue to Insertion of a Sewing Needle

Ⅰ．はじめに

　脳幹部障害の原因は，血管障害，腫瘍，炎症，脱髄疾患その他があげられるが，外傷による脳幹実質障害を起こし，存命する例はまれである．われわれは縫針を大後頭孔より，橋・延髄部正中に穿刺し，多彩な神経症状を呈した外傷性脳幹障害例を経験したので，症例を報告し病巣部位と臨床徴候との関連について若干の考察を加えたい．

A case of an attempted suicide by insertion of a sewing needle in the brainstem was reported. The patient was a 32-year-old woman who had been depressive since she lost her son by an automobile accident, two years previosly. On June 24, 1974, she inserted a 6.6cm sewing needle through the foramen magnum. She had vertigo and nausea, but could walk around for a while. Two hours later she was brought to a hospital. Skull X-rays revealed a needle in the midline of the pontomedullary junction. The tip of the needle had reached the clivus.