Brain death of an infant caused by a penetrating air gun injury.

Air guns are shooting projectiles (pellets) from the expansion of compressed air without involving any chemical reactions. Air guns are often regarded as harmless by the public, but these weapons can produce severe, sometimes lethal injuries, especially in children. A case of a penetrating head injury of an eleven-month-old infant, caused by an ordinary air gun pellet, is presented. The air gun pellet created an exceptionally severe brain injury, and brain death. The factors influencing the severity of air gun injuries - muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, skull thickness - are discussed.