The "side dome" is a mix of high and low explosives with a multitude of sma
ll metal balls molded within a specially designed half-sphere that directs
the explosion wave and the projectiles in one direction to augment the harm
. This weapon, originally designed by guerrilla and terrorist groups, is no
w used by regular armies. This report presents one craniocervical and eight
cranial injuries caused by this new weapon and discusses the cases' variou
s clinical features, the paucity of intracerebral cavitation damage along t
he missile track, the need for only minimally aggressive surgery, and the r
elatively favorable outcome. In all cases, the helmet offered good protecti
on and the entry of the projectiles was just below its rim in an upward dir
ection.