Penetrating head injury caused by chopstick - Case report

Abstract

A 4-year-old boy suffered a transorbital penetrating head injury caused by falling on a wooden chopstick while walking. The chopstick was removed completely, but full diagnosis was delayed for 3 years because the entry wound had not appeared to be serious. The patient later experienced rhinorrhea of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)1 and recurrent bacterial meningitis. Surgical repair of the CSF fistula at the anterior skull base was performed when the patient was 7 years old. Previous penetrating head injury should be considered in patients with recurrent CSF fistula and meningitis.