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Walk and Die: An Unusual Presentation of Head Injury
Author(s) -
Veevers Abigail E.,
Lawler William,
Rutty Guy N.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01201.x
Subject(s) - blunt , presentation (obstetrics) , head (geology) , head injury , parallels , autopsy , medicine , poison control , injury prevention , psychology , surgery , medical emergency , pathology , engineering , operations management , geomorphology , geology
We report three deaths in young adult males following closed blunt trauma to the head and face where the affected individuals were able to walk away from the incident, before subsequently collapsing and dying a short distance from the site of the assault. In each case, due to the rapidity of the posttrauma collapse, the pathologist was faced with a diagnostic difficulty at autopsy; the external examination revealed multiple injuries to the head and face, but internal examinations showed limited findings with no structural explanation for the death. We discuss possible mechanisms that could account for this scenario, the implications of alcohol consumption with a concussive head injury, and parallels that can be drawn with the so‐called “talk and die,”“talk and deteriorate,” and “second impact syndrome.” Finally, the possible role of so‐called “postexercise peril” is discussed in relation to these deaths.