[Unusual open craniocerebral injury caused by sickle's tip].

A nine years old girl suffered an unusual penetrating injury to the head caused by a sickle's tip sticked into the skull bones during a lavender harvest on island of Hvar. GCS score was 15. A sickle's blade and its handle were clearly seen coming out of the frontal bone, hanging free, while its tip was firmly sitting in the skull bones! After a neuroradiological diagnostical work up (skull x rays and CT scans) that confirmed intracranial penetration she was operated as an emergency.

[Electrosurgery, the cornerstone of current achievements of brain tumor surgery--on the occasion of 80th anniversary].

Neurosurgical pioneers had so many obstacles that prevented safe work and favorable outcome of the patients operated on. The mortality rate was high and discouraging. The operations were fast and rude whereafter the patients were dying or suffered prolonged hemorrhagic shock.