Background: Non-ballistic penetrating head injuries are exceptional at the skull base. A foreign object entering the
brain via one nostril is a rare situation. It is serious because of skull base vital anatomical elements threatened. We
report a case of nasocranial penetrating head injury by knife blade in a child whom we treated with an endoscope.
Case Description: This was a 07-year-old patient admitted urgently for an accidental implantation of a metallic
foreign object (knife) in the right nostril. The examination noted a knife blade implanted firmly in the right nostril
and inactive right rhinorrhagia. Computed tomography made it possible to objectify the knife blade going from the
right nostril, crossing the ethmoidal cells to lodge in the cerebral parenchyma. It was performed approximately
14 hours after admission, removal of knife blade using endoscope. After 3 months, postoperative follow-up was
simple.
Conclusion: Penetrating skull base injuries are exceptional. Their management poses particular difficulties in
relation to this location. Endoscope was certainly helpful in the management of our case.

Penetrating head injury Skull base Knife