How Did Six Nails End Up in a Construction Worker's Skull?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the incident involving construction worker Isidro Mejia, who had six nails embedded in his skull due to a nail gun accident. Participants explore the medical implications, historical comparisons, and technical aspects of imaging in such cases.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention the use of mobile CT and MRI for removing nails from Mejia's skull, suggesting that these methods could have been effective.
  • There are references to controversial cases of medical staff leaving instruments inside patients, with one participant recalling a woman who suffered due to this negligence.
  • Participants discuss the historical case of Phineas Gage, drawing parallels between his accident and Mejia's, particularly regarding the effects of brain injuries on personality and behavior.
  • One participant notes that the stainless steel used in the nails may be ferromagnetic, which could have implications for medical imaging techniques.
  • Concerns are raised about potential long-term effects on Mejia, including seizures and personality changes due to damage to critical brain areas.
  • Some participants express disbelief and humor regarding the severity of the incident and the medical implications, while others reflect on the seriousness of such accidents.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to handle such medical emergencies, and multiple viewpoints regarding the implications of the injuries and the effectiveness of imaging techniques remain present.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of detailed medical information about Mejia's condition and the assumptions made about the effects of the nails on his brain function.

Ivan Seeking
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Six nails embedded in the skull of construction worker Isidro Mejia, 39, after an industrial incident caused a nail gun to shoot nails into his head and brain on April 19, 2004, are seen in this X-ray image from Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Los Angeles [continued]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040505/capt.la10205051748.nailed_skull_la102.jpg


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/040505/480/la10205051748&e=1&ncid=1756
 
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Hey! We did mobile CT at Holy Cross, Ivan! Remember??
I thought CNN had a decent lateral view (xray) of this incident.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/West/05/05/nailed.skull.ap/

They could have got those nails out real easy by throwing him into an MR scanner! :biggrin: :biggrin: :eek:
 
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There are some contraversial pictures in British tabloids about medical staff leaving instruments in patients, including a pair of scissors in one woman.
 
I heard about the woman with the scissors; she complained about the pain but her complaints were dismissed.

I wonder if this guy can now hear radio stations in his head?

They could have got those nails out real easy by throwing him into an MR scanner!

When Tsu and I both worked in mobile imaging, some WWI vet entered a mobile MRI unit and had the 1918 vintage pins removed from his leg by the 1.0+ Tesla field, of the 1981 vintage NMR - now called MRI. Apparently the stainless was of such low quality that it was significantly ferromagnetic.
 
Ouch

On Ripley's museum I saw this metal pole penetrate a guy's skull and he miraculously survived.
 
The_Professional said:
On Ripley's museum I saw this metal pole penetrate a guy's skull and he miraculously survived.

Woah, that's a little harsh to show people! I bet he doesn't do many repeat performances :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
 
The_Professional said:
Ouch

On Ripley's museum I saw this metal pole penetrate a guy's skull and he miraculously survived.

It sounds like you may be referring to the story of Phineas Gage. He was a railway worker that was standing over an accidental explosion that sent a tamping iron through his skull in 1848. This incident had a huge influence of the birth of biopsychology because Gage's personailty was drastically different after the accident.

Here's a good place for info: http://www.deakin.edu.au/hbs/GAGEPAGE/index.htm
 
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Ivan Seeking said:
Apparently the stainless was of such low quality that it was significantly ferromagnetic.
Magnetic stainless isn't low quality, it's just a particular kind of stainless. Very common, too. Most of your silverware is probably magnetic stainless. I love stainless steel.

Anyway. It says in the article Tsunami linked to that one of the nails got his Wernicke's area, and now his speech is affected. What bothers me is it looks like the same nail went in all the way to his limbic system. I can't imagine this poor guy isn't going to start having seizures eventually, and possibly personality alterations, since the limic system is where emotions are orchestrated. That was really quite an awkward, ugly accident, that he fell on a guy holding a nail gun.
 
Jenn_ucsb said:
It sounds like you may be referring to the story of Phineas Gage. He was a railway worker that was standing over an accidental explosion that sent a tamping iron through his skull in 1848. This incident had a huge influence of the birth of biopsychology because Gage's personailty was drastically different after the accident.

Here's a good place for info: http://www.deakin.edu.au/hbs/GAGEPAGE/index.htm

Yes, the name rings a bell; that must be him. Thanks Jenn
 
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  • #10
Geez... That many nails. Its a good thing he didn't die.
 
  • #11
It reminds me of surgeons who unintentionally forgets surgical instruments while operating on their patients. Double ouch.
 
  • #12
Ivan Seeking said:
When Tsu and I both worked in mobile imaging, some WWI vet entered a mobile MRI unit and had the 1918 vintage pins removed from his leg by the 1.0+ Tesla field, of the 1981 vintage NMR - now called MRI. Apparently the stainless was of such low quality that it was significantly ferromagnetic.

It yanked them out through the skin? Wow! :eek: