[Penetrating head injuries caused by animal anesthesia guns].

An account is given of experience recorded from 15 patients who had been surgically treated for head injuries from animal stunning guns. All of them were male patients and were aged from 19 to 66 years. All cases were attempted suicides. Three patients died, including one of pyocephalus and two of injuries of vital structures. Eight patients whose first treatment had been restricted to wound suturing developed dangerous intracranial purulence. Seven patients of this group survived, following treatment of the bullet path. Patients with such injuries can be saved, if wound dressing is accompanied by removal of foreign bodies, bone fragments, blood clots, and devitalised tissue and if the dura mater is sealed watertight.