CASE REPORT  SPORT INJURIES AND REHABILITATION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2017 November;57(11):1494-8

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.17.07133-X

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Trans-nasal-trans-sphenoidal brain injury by a fencing foil: an unusual case report and brief literature review

Rafet ÖZAY ✉, Mehmet S. BALKAN, Çağhan TÖNGE, Zeki ŞEKERCI

Clinic of Neurosurgery, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

In this report, the authors present an unusual case of a 10-year-old child who suffered a severe headache and rhinorrhea that occurred as a result of fencing foil sports injury via trans-nasal-trans-sphenoidal (TNTS) pathway. Following trauma, the child had shown neurological symptoms such a pupil dilatation, change in consciousness and mild hemiparesia. Imaging demonstrated destruction of bone structures including posterior wall of sphenoid sinus and antero-superior part of sella turcica, and also a contusion at right thalamic region. For treatment of rhinorrhea lumbar drainage system (LDS) had planted in order to relieve cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. After the treatment, the patient had fully recovered without any need of further surgical intervention. CSF leakage had prevented and neurological symptoms were completely treated. This case represents the first report of brain injury via TNTS pathway in a sports practice. Diagnosis, clinic follow-up and treatment options of this rare accidental sports injury are discussed.

KEY WORDS: Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea - Brain injuries - Drainage