Classical Krönlein Phenomenon Following Homicidal .30-06 Rifle Injury: A Forensic Case Report

The Krönlein phenomenon is a rare and catastrophic form of cranial firearm injury characterized by explosive disruption of the cranial vault with extrusion of an essentially intact cerebrum following a contact or near-contact high-velocity gunshot. Contemporary cases fulfilling the classical morphological criteria remain exceptionally uncommon. We report a homicidal case involving a young male fatally shot with a .30-06 centrefire sporting rifle. Scene investigation revealed recovery of a detached scalp flap and nearly intact cerebral hemispheres separate from the terminal blood pool. Autopsy demonstrated massive calvarial destruction, complete cerebral evisceration, peduncular separation with associated hemorrhage, and preservation of the cerebellum beneath an intact tentorium cerebelli. Correlation of scene findings, autopsy morphology, and ballistic evidence permitted confident classification as a classical complete Krönlein phenomenon despite non-recovery of most cranial vault fragments and the expelled cerebrum. The case reinforces the importance of applying strict morphological criteria when diagnosing the Krönlein phenomenon and provides additional insight into its reconstructive pathology and medicolegal interpretation. The findings further suggest that peripheral vault-level intracranial trajectories may also produce classical Krönlein morphology when sufficient intracranial pressure loading is generated.