• Xi-Sheng Li, Jun Yan, Chang Liu, Yu Luo, Xing-Sheng Liao, Liang Yu, and Shao-Wen Xiao.
• Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2017 Feb 1; 98: 873.e9-873.e25.

BackgroundNonmissile penetrating head injuries (NPHIs) in the civilian population are rare but potentially fatal. Although numerous cases have been reported in the literature, the surgical management of such injuries is still ambiguous, especially with development of surgical techniques. Here, we report 5 cases of NPHIs managed with different surgical techniques and review the literature on surgical treatment of these injuries to outline the appropriate management for these patients from a neurosurgical perspective.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 5 cases of NPHIs managed surgically in our department. The clinical data were collected, including cause, type of objects, way of penetration, initial clinical evaluation, imaging, surgical intervention, postoperative care, complication, follow-up, and outcome. In addition, a systematic review of the literature was performed in the PubMed database to search for articles on surgical treatment of these injuries.ResultsThese 5 cases were caused by twisted steel bar, electric welding rod, and sewing needle, respectively. Preoperative imaging, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and digital subtraction angiography, was selectively performed to assist the operative plan. Foreign objects were removed surgically in all cases. Postoperative prophylactic administration of antibiotics and anticonvulsants was used to prevent infectious and epileptic complications. Most of the patients achieved a better outcome except for one.ConclusionsNPHIs can be fatal but they can be managed with satisfactory results by proper preoperative imaging evaluation, rapid appropriate surgical management, and accurate postoperative care. Personalized surgical intervention should be undertaken depending on the mechanism and extent of the NPHI.Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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