Krönlein shot indicates a prolapse of an intact brain hemisphere or, more rarely, of both brain hemispheres in high-velocity missile injuries to the brain during close-range shooting. In cases of Krönlein shot, a gunshot wound to the skull with a high-velocity bullet, the skull is shattered by the temporary wound cavity and there is a complete evisceration of the brain.
Fig.1 “Krönlein” shot. Complete evisceration of the brain
In the case of a high-powered firearm, the amount of gas generated by the blast is so large that a shot fired with the weapon in contact with the head causes extensive destruction. Discharge of a high-powered firearm into the mouth is associated with tremendous overexpansion of the soft tissues of the head and massive fractures of the skull. This causes vertical tears of the skin in front of the ears and along the creases on either side of the mouth and nose, as well as the inner angles of the eyes.
In 1899, Rudolf Ulrich Krönlein, who was a Swiss surgeon, described evisceration of brain in a high-velocity gunshot wound to the head.
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