Partial disconnection syndrome following penetrating stab wound of the brain.

A case of callosal disconnection syndrome caused by a penetrating stab wound of the brain is reported. A portion of the genu and the inferior splenium of the corpus callosum were sectioned by an ice pick without any other significant cerebral damage. We could detect incomplete disconnection left visual alexia by tachistoscopy. It would now appear that the inferior part of the splenium has a significant functional role in transmitting visual verbal codes from the right to the left cerebral hemisphere, but the remaining superior fibers of the splenium may carry some information, albeit less efficiently than the intact structure.