Neurosurgical history: comparing the management of penetrating head injury in 1969 with 2005

Penetrating head trauma may present challenging problems in the acute phase (removal of foreign bodies, control of haemorrhage, prevention of infection) and in the management of long-term sequelae (neurological deficit, cognitive impairment, seizures). Two unusual cases demonstrate the progress made in emergency medicine, radiology neurointensive care, and neurosurgical head injury management over 36 years.