Intracranial sewing needles: Is an unsuccessful homicidal attempt or the result of an accident? [Intrakraniyal dikiş iǧneleri: Başarisiz bir cinayet girişimi veya kaza sonucu mudur?]

Summary the insertion of a sewing needle through fontanella is a common method to kill an infant especially in eastern societies. although it was first described by meixner in 1914,this is an ancient practice cited in the non-medical literature. there are some single or serial case reports up to date in the literature. soon after the insertion of sewing needle the victims usually die,but rarely the sewing needle can be detected incidentally after a long while. the authors reported a 20 years old male patient,who had two sewing needles in the left cerebral hemisphere and suffered from headache. the radiological appearance of the needles in his brain suggested that they must have been inserted into the cranium through the anterior fontanel of the calvarium during infancy,before the closure of the sutures,as a result of an unsuccessful homicide attempt or an accidental injury. the patient and his relatives did not know how the needles were introduced there.