ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 April 1981
Page Count: 4

Secondary Intracranial Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Due to Spinal Missile Injury
Smialek, JE
Deputy chief medical examiner, Office of the Medical Examiner of Wayne County, Mich.

Chason, JL
Neuropathologist, Henry Ford Hospital, Mich.

Kshirsagar, V
Assistant medical examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, W.Va.

Spitz, WU
Chief medical examiner, Office of the Medical Examiner of Wayne County, Mich.

(Received 22 September 1980; accepted 17 October 1980)

Abstract

Fresh intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage may occur secondary to blast-type injury of the spinal cord. This phenomenon is demonstrated in four cases of gunshot and shotgun wounds involving the spinal column. The significance of such a finding is that the subarachnnid hemorrhage should not be construed to represent an independent injury. Such an erroneous conclusion could jeopardize a theory of self-defense in a homicidal shooting.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, hemorrhage, central nervous system

Paper ID: JFS11380J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11380J
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