The Ultimate Guide To Boy Screw Head Sizes And Types

In a freak accident, 13-year-old Darius Foreman from Maryland fell while building a treehouse, resulting in a six-inch screw piercing his skull. An X-ray revealed that the screw was lodged between the two halves of his brain, threatening to tear the largest channel responsible for draining blood and fluids. According to his neurosurgeon, Dr. Alan Cohen, Foreman was a millimeter away from bleeding to death.

Treehouse-building accident

Treehouses are a source of fun and adventure for many children, but the risks associated with their construction cannot be overstated. This is highlighted by the story of Darius Foreman, a 13-year-old boy from Maryland, whose life was almost claimed by a freak accident while building his treehouse.

On a fateful Saturday, Foreman was working on his treehouse when he suddenly lost his balance and fell from a branch. This unfortunate turn of events set off a chain of events that led to a six-inch screw piercing his skull and lodging between the two halves of his brain. The accident occurred when a five-foot-long wooden board that Foreman knocked over came crashing down on top of his head, with the screw embedded in it.

Foreman's mother, Joy Ellingsworth, recounted the terrifying experience, describing it as one of the scariest moments in her life. The situation was dire, as the screw threatened to tear the largest channel that drains blood and other fluids from the brain. According to Dr. Alan Cohen, the chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, an injury to this part of the brain could have been "catastrophic." Foreman's neurosurgeon further emphasised the severity of the situation, stating that the boy was "a millimeter away" from bleeding to death.

The rescue efforts were challenging due to the attached board, requiring the use of a family saw to cut it down to a manageable size before Foreman could be transported to the hospital. The delicate operation that followed involved removing tiny fragments of bone and a small blood clot. Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and Foreman was discharged on his 13th birthday, receiving gifts and a unique keepsake—the screw removed from his skull. He had learned an important lesson: "Never build a tree fort."

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with treehouse construction and underscores the importance of taking safety precautions to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.

Life-threatening injury

A life-threatening injury is any injury that may result in the loss of life. Head injuries are one of the most common causes of death in both children and adults. Head injuries can be mild, such as a bump, bruise, or cut on the head, or they can be more severe, such as a concussion, skull fracture, internal bleeding, or damage to the brain.

In the case of the boy with the screw in his head, the injury was life-threatening due to the location of the screw and the potential for massive hemorrhage. The screw had lodged between the two halves of his brain and came close to tearing into the superior sagittal sinus, one of the main vein channels that drain blood from the brain. Damage to this area could have resulted in life-threatening bleeding.

Any object penetrating the head is considered a moderate to severe head injury and requires immediate medical attention. Other symptoms of moderate to severe head injuries include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Severe headache that does not go away
• Repeated nausea and vomiting
• Loss of short-term memory
• Weakness on one side of the body
• Seizures or convulsions
• Blood or clear fluid draining from the ears or nose
• Pupil dilation or difference in pupil size between the two eyes
• Deep cut or laceration in the scalp
• Open wound in the head
• Coma
• Vegetative state
• Locked-in syndrome

It is important to seek medical attention immediately if any of these symptoms are present, as prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial in life-threatening situations.

Additionally, head injuries can have long-term effects even if they are not immediately life-threatening. Children who suffer severe brain injuries may experience loss of function in muscle, speech, vision, hearing, or taste, and may require lifelong medical and rehabilitative treatment.

X-ray imaging

X-ray beams pass through body tissues and onto treated plates, creating an image. The amount of radiation used in the procedure varies and should be discussed with a healthcare provider. X-rays are particularly useful for diagnosing bone injuries, such as fractures, as well as detecting foreign objects in the body. In the case of the boy with the screw in his head, an x-ray image showed the screw lodged between the two halves of his brain, helping doctors assess the severity of the injury and plan the surgical removal of the screw.

X-ray images are typically created by positioning the patient on an x-ray table, with the area to be imaged between the x-ray machine and a cassette containing an x-ray film or digital plate. The technician will step behind a protective window while the image is taken and will instruct the patient to remain still to avoid distorting the image. In some cases, multiple images from different positions may be required.

Neurosurgery

Foreman was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where an X-ray revealed the screw's position, threatening to tear the largest channel that drains blood and other fluids from the brain. Dr. Shenandoah Robinson, a neurosurgeon, cut the board off Foreman's head with the help of a nurse, John Mullen. Dr. Robinson's husband, Dr. Alan Cohen, chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, then removed the screw. The surgery lasted about two hours, during which Dr. Cohen removed tiny fragments of bone and a small blood clot. The operation was a success, and Foreman was expected to make a full recovery.

Cranial fixation is another area of neurosurgery that deals with the fixation of cranial bone flaps and fractures. Various systems are available, such as the CranioFix® 2 Titanium Clamp System, which provides maximum flap stability while saving time in the operating room. The choice of instrumentation and techniques depends on the specific case and the neurosurgeon's expertise.

Recovery and discharge

Darius Foreman underwent a two-hour operation to remove the screw from his skull and tiny fragments of bone and a small blood clot. The surgery was successful, and the medical team were able to prevent bleeding, which could have been catastrophic.

Foreman was discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital the day after his operation, on his 13th birthday. He was given the screw that had been lodged in his skull as a memento of his close call. He also received gifts from the hospital.

Foreman's mother, Joy Ellingsworth, said he had the board attached to his head for a total of about seven hours. She added that he learned a valuable lesson from the accident: "Never build a tree fort."

Neurosurgeon Dr. Alan Cohen described Foreman as a "lucky kid".

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