ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The damage caused to the central nervous system by lightning can be immediate or delayed. Cerebrovascular accidents are usually an infrequent complication of lightning strikes. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a patient who was hit by lightning and then developed an acute bilateral intraparenchymatous haemorrhage in the basal ganglia and the left internal capsule. DISCUSSION: Few cases of intracranial haemorrhages secondary to lightning strikes have been reported. We carry out a review and analysis of the literature currently available on the subject. A number of theories have been put forward that attempt to explain the mechanism behind these haemorrhages in patients who have been hit by lightning. The reason why there is a predilection for the basal ganglia is unknown, although it could be linked to the particular features of the vascularisation of the area.
