Biomaterial Database

Diffuse axonal injury: its mechanism in an assault case. 1996

T Imajo

Research Department, Hamot Medical Center, Erie, PA 16550, USA.

Diffuse axonal injury is caused by irreparable shearing of the axons. A case of diffuse axonal injury by a well-witnessed assault is reported. The victim survived for 13 days after the assault. The mode of assault was numerous kicks to the head of the victim lying on the ground. The kicking motion was sideways across the long axis of the body. Thus, on each impact, the victim's head moved with relative freedom or was tossed violently side to side or in a lateral, even angular or rotational, manner. This resulted in a low acceleration/deceleration rate. Grossly, the brain showed no lesions; however, a microscopic lytic lesion was present in the corpus callosum. These injuries were consistent with a grade-2 diffuse axonal injury (Adams classification).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D003128	Coma	A profound state of unconsciousness associated with depressed cerebral activity from which the individual cannot be aroused. Coma generally occurs when there is dysfunction or injury involving both cerebral hemispheres or the brain stem RETICULAR FORMATION.	Comatose,Pseudocoma,Comas,Pseudocomas
D003337	Corpus Callosum	Broad plate of dense myelinated fibers that reciprocally interconnect regions of the cortex in all lobes with corresponding regions of the opposite hemisphere. The corpus callosum is located deep in the longitudinal fissure.	Interhemispheric Commissure,Neocortical Commissure,Callosum, Corpus,Callosums, Corpus,Commissure, Interhemispheric,Commissure, Neocortical,Commissures, Interhemispheric,Commissures, Neocortical,Corpus Callosums,Interhemispheric Commissures,Neocortical Commissures
D005554	Forensic Medicine	The application of medical knowledge to questions of law.	Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001369	Axons	Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body.	Axon
D014754	Violence	Use of physical force causing or intent to cause harm, injury or abuse.	Assaultive Behavior,Atrocities,Behavior, Assaultive,Interpersonal Violence,Physical Assault,Physical Attacks,Structural Violence,Violent Crime,Assault, Physical,Attack, Physical,Attacks, Physical,Crime, Violent,Interpersonal Violences,Physical Assaults,Physical Attack,Violence, Interpersonal,Violence, Structural,Violent Crimes