Fatal Head Injury in a 1-Year-Old Child Secured in a Rear-Facing Child Seat by Offset Car-to-Car Collision.

This case study describes a fatal head injury in a 1-year-old child involved in a motor vehicle accident in Japan. The child, secured in a rear-facing child seat, was a passenger in a car driven by their mother when the offset car-to-car collision occurred. The car rotated counterclockwise before coming to a stop. Despite remaining secured in the child seat, the child suffered severe head trauma, leading to cardiac arrest. Autopsy computed tomography revealed a right open depressed fracture, left head contusion, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and pneumocephalus. The injury mechanism involved the child's head striking the right headrest, followed by a swing to the left, induced by the initial impact and subsequent rotational movement. This case highlights the importance of age-specific data in understanding pediatric injuries in motor vehicle accidents and improving child seat safety measures.

Pediatric ping-pong skull fractures treated with vacuum-assisted elevation.

PURPOSE: Depressed ("ping-pong") skull fractures can be treated by different means, including observation, non-surgical treatments, or surgical intervention. The authors describe their experience with vacuum-assisted elevation of ping-pong skull fractures and evaluate variables associated with surgical outcomes. METHODS: The authors present a retrospective review of all ping-pong skull fractures treated with vacuum-assisted elevation at the Children's Hospital of Orange County in 2021-2022. Variables included patient age, mechanism of injury, fracture depth, bone thickness at the fracture site, and degree of elevation. RESULTS: Seven patients underwent vacuum-assisted elevation of ping-pong fractures at the bedside without the use of anesthesia. Fractures caused by birth-related trauma were deeper than those caused by falls (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between groups in bone thickness at the fracture site (2.10 mm vs 2.16 mm, n.s). Six of the seven patients experienced significant improvement in fracture site depression, with four displaying a complete fracture reduction and two displaying a significant reduction. The degree of fracture reduction was modestly related to the depth of fracture, with the two deepest fractures failing to achieve full reduction. Age appeared to be related to fracture reduction, with the lowest reduction observed in one of the oldest patients in this sample. No complications were observed in any patient other than temporary mild swelling at the suction site, and no re-treatment or surgery for the fractures was required. CONCLUSION: Vacuum-assisted elevation of ping-pong skull fractures is a safe and effective noninvasive treatment option for infants that can be used under certain circumstances. The procedure can be done safely at the bedside and is a relatively quick procedure. It avoids the need for open surgical intervention, anesthesia, or hospital admission, and can lead to excellent outcomes.

Fractura con hundimiento de cráneo intrauterina espontánea: reporte de dos casos / Spontaneous intrauterine depressed skull fracture: report of two cases

Las fracturas con hundimiento de cráneo intrauterinas representan una entidad poco frecuente, generalmente secundaria a traumatismos (previos o durante el nacimiento) o de etiología desconocida. Suelen requerir evaluación y seguimiento por el servicio de Neurocirugía Pediátrica. A la fecha, es controversial la necesidad de tratamiento quirúrgico y el momento oportuno para concretarlo. Se presentan dos casos clínicos de pacientes de término, nacidas porcesárea,condiagnósticoposnatalinmediatodehundimiento de cráneo de tipo ping-pong no traumático. Ambas pacientes presentaron examen neurológico normal. Se confirmó el diagnóstico a través de radiografía y tomografía de cráneo, sin observarse lesiones asociadas. Fueron valoradas por el servicio de Neurocirugía, que indicó corrección quirúrgica de la lesión en ambos casos, con buena evolución posterior.

Spontaneous intrauterine depressed skull fractures are a rare entity. They can appear secondarily to head trauma (before or during birth) or due to unknown etiology. They usually require a complete evaluation from pediatric neurosurgery specialists. Their optimal management, including timely surgical treatment remains controversial. We describe two cases delivered by cesarean section, with postnatal diagnosis of spontaneous intrauterine depressed skull fracture. Both had a normal neurological exam. A skull radiography and head CT were performed, and no associated lesions were found. Both cases required surgical correction, with positive results.

Airgun Wound with Superior Sagittal Sinus Involvement in a Child: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Although still considered quite harmless, nonpowder guns (NPG) may cause severe head injuries in children. We present the case of a depressed skull fracture with superior sagittal sinus involvement following NPG injury. Decision-making and surgical management are discussed, and the current literature concerning NPG-related pediatric head injuries is reviewed. CASE PRESENTATION: A 4-year-old boy hit by a compressed-air rifle came to our center. CT scan showed a depressed skull fracture of the occipital bone on the midline and intracranial penetration of some fragments of the pellet. CT angiography documented a compression of the superior sagittal sinus without thrombosis. Soon after hospital admission, the patient showed deterioration of the neurological status suggesting intracranial hypertension. Surgery was performed with fracture elevation, removal of metal fragments, and wound debridement. The patient had a full recovery without subsequent neurological deficits. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Modern airguns may produce severe penetrating head injuries in children. Parents and physicians should be aware of the danger of NPG. Depressed skull fracture and dural venous sinus involvement can occur, and even a stable neurological condition may worsen. In such instances, a thorough preoperative assessment including vascular imaging is mandatory. The surgical risk is not negligible due to the possible injury of the sinus wall and subsequent intraoperative bleeding. This has to be weighted against potential complications of the penetrating injury, such as infection, sinus thrombosis, and intracranial hypertension. Our case suggests that prompt surgical treatment can be a safe and effective option.

Use of Vacuum-suction in Depressed Skull Fractures ­ Case Report and Technical Nuances of Nonoperative Treatment

Up to 20% of victims from skull fractures are represented by the pediatric population, and 50% of these lesions are depressed skull fractures. The treatment is multimodal in nature, ranging from conservative treatment to open surgical repair. The last one is associated, although in a small proportion, to complications, such as infections, hematomas and even death, besides the risks of the anesthetic procedure itself. The authors of the present article present a case report of the successful treatment of a depressed skull fracture in a newborn patient, using the vacuum-suction technique. The use of vacuum-suction may be beneficial for the pediatric patients, as it is a quick, non-invasive procedure, without the need for general anesthesia.

Surgical Treatment of a Child With Acute Cortical Blindness Caused by Depressed Skull Fracture.

Linear skull fractures are relatively common in children, however, it is rarer to see depressed fractures. This report details the case of a 7-year-old boy who was admitted to the emergency department with complete blindness after having experienced an in-car traffic accident. Brain tomography of the patient showed that a large, island-shaped piece of occipital bone was depressed on the visual cortex and superior sagittal sinus in the midline. Presentation of complete loss of vision after an isolated head trauma is very rare, and there are no similar cases in existing literature. The limits of surgical indications for depressed skull fractures are well established in neurosurgical practice. Surgical intervention should be performed immediately, especially in cases where neurological changes develop in the earliest stages after a trauma. The patient underwent emergency surgery to correct the blindness without affecting the vascular neighborhood. The depressed cranium was raised to its original position. The blindness had completely resolved shortly after the patient woke up during the postoperative period.

Delayed Neurological Deterioration after Depressed Fracture over Superior Sagittal Sinus: Our Experience with 13 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience in the diagnosis and management protocol of 13 patients with a depressed skull fracture over the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) who developed delayed neurologic deterioration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in the Neurosurgical Department, Assiut University Hospitals, between May 2012 and May 2017. All patients with a depressed skull fracture over the SSS were reviewed. Only those patients who were neurologically intact after trauma but suffered delayed neurologic deterioration were included in this study. Preoperative characteristics of age, sex, cause of trauma, type and site of the depressed skull fracture, and clinical presentation were reviewed and evaluated. Neuroimaging including brain computed tomography and computed tomography venography were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 612 patients with depressed skull fractures admitted to our department, 63 had the fracture segment on the SSS. Thirteen patients, nine males and four females, met the inclusion criteria (age range: 5-42 years). The most common cause of trauma was assault from others (seven patients). Eight patients had a compound depressed fracture; the other five fractures were simple. Interval between trauma and neurologic deterioration ranged between 4 days and 3 weeks. Clinical deterioration included decrease of consciousness, headache, blurred vision, and repeated vomiting. Deterioration of consciousness was seen in four patients. Eight patients had sixth cranial nerve palsy. Visual deterioration was seen in four patients. All the included patients were operated on for elevation of the depressed segment. Eleven patients improved; two patients who presented initially with visual deterioration did not improve. Their visual deterioration persisted after surgery. For both these patients, lumbar puncture revealed high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. Clinical improvement followed the insertion of a thecoperitoneal shunt. CONCLUSION: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) may follow a depressed fracture over the SSS. It may occur immediately after trauma or later. Surgical decompression with elevation of the depressed segment is indicated. Persistence of manifestations of raised ICP despite elevation of the depressed segment indicates the occurrence of an SSS thrombosis. CSF pressure should be measured to confirm the diagnosis and consider a thecoperitoneal shunt.

Treatment of Traumatic Depressed Compound Skull Fractures.

BACKGROUND: A skull fracture widely occurs in patients with traumatic brain injury, leading to intracranial hematoma, brain contusion, and intracranial infection. It also influences the prognosis and death of patients. This study aimed to discuss cases of patients with comminuted skull fractures. METHODS: From October 2015 to December 2018, 38 patients with comminuted skull fractures were admitted to the hospital. All patients underwent three-dimensional reconstruction of computed tomography scan images. Digital subtraction angiography or magnetic resonance venography was performed to find out the venous sinus. The clinical findings of the patients were significant regarding gender, age, injury mechanism, location, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), combined epidural, subdural, cerebral contusion, intracranial pneumatosis, maximum depth of depression, admission to surgery, dural tear, post-operative cerebrospinal fluid leakage, post-operative infection, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of traffic accidents, fall from a height, railway accidents, fall of an object, and chop injury was 60.5%, 18.4%, 13.2%, 5.3%, and 2.6%, respectively. Intra-operative dural trar negatively correlated with epidural hematoma, cerebral contusion, and subdural hematoma. Also, post-operative infection negatively correlated with intracranial pneumatosis, depth of fracture depression, and pre-operative cerebrospinal fluid leakage. No correlation was found between contusion, subdural hematoma, intracranial pneumatosis, depth of fracture depression, and post-operative infection. The GOS score positively correlated with age, pre-operative cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and admission GCS score. CONCLUSIONS: A perfect pre-operative examination is a key to successful surgery. Further studies should be conducted to find out more effective treatments for traumatic comminuted skull fractures.

Depressed Skull Fractures Overlying Dural Venous Sinuses: Management Modalities and Review of Literature.

AIM: To characterize the sociodemographic, clinical and radiological findings of patients with depressed skull fractures overlying cranial dural sinuses that we have faced in our institute. In addition, to explore the indications and choices for the surgical and nonsurgical management of such cases, and assess outcomes in these two treatment groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively followed up a cohort of 34 patients with fractures over dural venous sinuses from January 2013 to December 2017. Twelve (35.1%) were simple depressed fractures (SDFs) and 22 (64.7%) were compound depressed fractures (CDFs). Eighteen patients (52.9%) were treated surgically, and 16 (47.1%) were treated conservatively. RESULTS: The mean age was 20.8 years. Thirty-two of the patients were males (94.12%). The mean time from trauma until hospital arrival was 3.8 hours, and the mean admission Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 13.7. Direct trauma was the most common mode of injury. Funduscopy was performed in 16 patients (47.1%), and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) in four patients (11.8%). Twenty-four patients (70.59%) had the fracture overlying the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). The mean length of hospital stay was five days, and the mean follow-up duration was 6.8 months. Twenty-eight patients (82.35%) had a good recovery. CONCLUSION: The majority of SDFs and some CDFs overlying dural sinuses can be managed safely without major surgical intervention. Conservation should be favored when the sinus is patent, dura intact, and bone displacement is insignificant in neurologically intact patients with an apparently clean wound. Otherwise, surgery should be considered. We also propose including a funduscopic examination and venogram as parts of the initial trauma work-up for these patients.

Outcome of Primary Bone Fragment Replacement in Pediatric Patients with Depressed Skull Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pediatric patients who were operated with the diagnosis of depressed skull fracture. METHODS: The records of pediatric patients who presented with traumatic head injury to multicenter neurosurgery clinics between 2002 and 2018 and who were operated with a diagnosis of depressed skull fracture were retrospectively reviewed. All of the patients underwent primary bone fragment replacement operation, and the patients' own bone flaps were used to repair depressed skull fractures in all of them. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients were included in the study. Of the study group, 20 patients presented with mild head injury, 37 had moderate head injury, and 21 had severe head injury. Dural injury was present in 67 patients (86%) and the dura was intact in 11 patients (14%). After surgery, 63 patients (81%) had good outcome, 8 patients (10%) had moderate disability, and 5 patients (6.5%) had severe disability. Two patients with multiple accompanying cranial pathologies died and the mortality rate was 2.5%. Infection was detected in only 2 of the 78 patients who were treated within the first 72 h after trauma. One of them had meningitis and the other skin infection. Both patients were treated with appropriate antibiotherapy. None of the patients in the study group had an infection involving the bone, such as osteomyelitis, or the tissues under the bone, such as subdural-epidu-ral empyema or abscess. None of the patients required reoperation and removal of the bone. CONCLUSION: In the present study, as the pathologies accompanying the depressed skull fractures of the patients increased, Glasgow Coma Scale scores at arrival and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores at discharge decreased. Regardless of whether the depressed fracture is simple or compound, primary bone fragment replacement with appropriate decontamination of the fractured bone and operation area via single-session intervention gives good results. It is important to perform the surgery as soon as possible to reduce the risk of contamination. Primary bone fragment replacement seems to be an appropriate treatment option for depressed skull fractures.

Localization of the Maxillary Ostium in Relation to the Reduction of Depressed Nasomaxillary Fractures.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the precise location of the maxillary ostium using computed tomography for the reduction of depressed nasomaxillary fractures.Computed tomography images (61 males, 42 females; age range, 3-97 years) were analyzed. Coronal sections were cut every 3 mm.The primary maxillary ostium (PMO) was located 24.7% ±â€Š3.9% of bizygomatic distance (BZD) lateral to septum. The horizontal distance of the PMO significantly increased with age (P = 0.032). The PMO was located 53.3% ±â€Š8.0% of nasal length (NL) above superior surface of the palatal bone (SP). The vertical-to-horizontal ratio of the PMO decreased with age (P = 0.013). The PMO was located 30.3 ±â€Š4.3 mm posterior to the tip of nasal bone. The PMO was located 24.6 ±â€Š4.8 mm posterior to the anterior nasal spine (ANS). The ANS-PMO distance significantly increased with age (P = 0.027). The hiatus semilunaris (HS) was located 11.9% ±â€Š3.2% of BZD lateral to septum. The HS was located 62.4% ±â€Š10.3% of NL above SP. The vertical distance of the HS significantly decreased with age (P = 0.019). The accessory maxillary ostium (AMO) was located 14.9% ±â€Š2.8% of BZD lateral to septum. The horizontal distance of the AMO significantly increased with age (P = 0.027). The AMO was located 44.8% ±â€Š6.9% of NL above SP. The vertical distance of the AMO significantly decreased with age (P < 0.001). The vertical-to-horizontal ratio of the AMO decreased with age (P < 0.001).The distances of the ostium from surgical landmarks measured in this study might be helpful when inserting a small curved elevator into the maxillary ostium in the reduction of medial maxillary fractures.

Traumatic open depressed cranial fracture causing occlusion of posterior superior sagittal sinus: Case report.

RATIONALE: The superior sagittal sinus (SSS) is the major dural sinuses that receive a considerable amount of venous drainage. Interruption of its posterior third has been suggested to cause intracranial hypertension and lead to potentially fatal consequences. PATIENT CONCERNS: We presented a 22-year-old man with a severe headache and scalp bleeding after a head chop wound. Physical examination identified a 20-cm straight laceration in his parietooccipital scalp. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a depressed cranial fracture (DCF) in the left parietooccipital bone, a fracture line across the midline to the right side, and penetrations of bone fragments into the brain parenchyma. DIAGNOSES: Traumatic open DCF in left parietooccipital bone. INTERVENTIONS: An emergent left parietooccipital craniotomy, followed by cranioplasty to restore the depressed bone flap, was delivered to the patient. Postoperative CT confirmed successful elevation of the DCF and removal of intracerebral bone fragments. However, postoperative CT angiography (CTA) demonstrated an absence of venous flow distal to the fracture, suggesting occlusion of the posterior third of SSS. MRV revealed a persistent absence of venous flow in the posterior third of SSS with dilated cortical venous drainage. Anticoagulation treatment was initiated 3 days after surgery, and follow-up CTA and digital subtraction angiography showed gradually improved patency in the anterior and middle two-thirds of SSS. OUTCOMES: Despite occlusion of the posterior third of SSS, patient's symptoms resolved after the operation and he was discharged without complications. LESSONS: The favorable clinical outcome after complete occlusion of the posterior third of the SSS has rarely been reported and it might be explained by our timely surgical intervention and development of compensatory cerebral collateral circulation.

[Depressed skull fracture following the use of Mayfield headrest in adult patients: about a case and review of the literature]. / Embarrure suite à l'utilisation de la têtière de Mayfield chez l'adulte: à propos d'un cas et revue de la literature.

Many neurosurgical procedures involve the use of a pin-type headrest to immobilize the patient's head. We report the case of depressed skull fracture in an adult patient secondary to the use of Mayfield headrest. The diagnosis was based on postoperative CT scan of the brain following surgical resection of medulloblastoma. Several factors seem to increase the risk of complications due to Mayfield headrest use. Preventive measures are outlined in our literature review.

[A Case of Depressed Skull Fracture Involving only the Inner Table].

Depressed skull fracture commonly results from trauma and usually occurs following high-speed impact with a small object. The outer and inner tables of the skull typically break concurrently. We present a case of depressed skull fracture involving only the inner table. The case resulted in a good outcome with only conservative treatment, although the mechanism remained unclear. Fracture models of cadavers have been the main tool for biomechanical investigation, but this classical method cannot accurately measure mechanical factors. We utilized a computer simulation model to assess the human head following skull fracture. This is the first report of an inner table fracture;the fracture mechanism was determined using a simulated computer model.

Treatment strategies for frontal sinus anterior table fractures and contour deformities.

Anterior table frontal sinus fractures can result in aesthetically displeasing contour deformities. Acute anterior table frontal sinus fractures that are depressed may be reduced with an open, closed, or endoscope-assisted approach. Delayed contour deformity camouflage can be achieved using bone grafts, titanium meshes, methyl methacrylate, hydroxyapatite cement, and polyether ether ketone implants. The selection of surgical approach to repair a frontal sinus contour deformity depends on the fracture severity, chronicity, complexity, patient comorbidities, and surgeon preference and experience. Advancement in endoscopic technology and expertise has created a paradigm shift toward a less invasive approach to the frontal region, with considerably less morbidity than conventional open techniques.

Use of 3D reconstruction of emergency and postoperative craniocerebral CT images to explore craniocerebral trauma mechanism.

We report a craniocerebral trauma case in which a man sustained severe skull fractures and cerebral contusions and it demanded elucidating the injury mechanism of being formed by strike or tumble. However, the initial features of skull fractures were mostly lost when the forensic pathologists involved in the case 5 months later because of injury healing and craniocerebral surgery. Therefore, we aimed to reconstruct the original skull fracture features by utilizing the digital reconstruction technologies in terms of CT (computed tomography) scanning, 3D (3-dimentional) reconstruction, and virtual surgical tools. The original fracture skull was assembled by using Mimics 13.0 based on the CT slices of postoperative head and the removed craniotomy skull flaps, which revealed fracture features of focal and overall skull deformation. Based on the assembly skull model and the contrecoup cerebral contusions, we conclude that the man suffered a tumble after being drunk and the serious craniocerebral trauma occurred. The case demonstrated that the digital reconstruction technologies can serve as effective approaches for forensic investigation in case of survived craniocerebral trauma patients without direct evidences interpreting the original trauma patterns, which could potentially be helpful in exploring the injury mechanisms.

Early surgery does not seem to be a pivotal criterion to improve prognosis in patients with frontal depressed skull fractures.

INTRODUCTION: There has been much debate about the ideal timing of surgery of frontal depressed skull fractures (DSF). In this paper, we assess whether timing of surgery may have influenced outcome. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of 40 consecutive patients with frontal DSF who underwent surgical treatment over a 36-month period. The patients were divided into early surgery group (ESG) which were operated within 24 h and delayed surgery group (DSG). RESULTS: The population comprised 39 (97.50%) men and the mean age was 27.9 years (range, 2-81 yr). There was no difference of age (P = 0.53), gender male (P = 1.00), presence of focal lesion on head CT (P = 0.89), hypotension (P = 0.28), and hypoxia (P = 0.15). Mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was significantly lower in patients of ESG than DSG (8.75 and 11.7, resp., P = 0.02). There was no difference between the groups in relation to death (P = 0.13), unfavourable outcome (P = 0.41), late posttraumatic epilepsy (P = 0.64), and smell-and-taste disturbances (P = 1.00). Only one patient (3.5%) evolved meningitis during follow-up. CONCLUSION: We found no difference between the ESG and DSG in respect to death, unfavourable outcome, LPE, and STD.

The comparison between dissociate bone flap cranioplasty and traditional cranioplasty in the treatment of depressed skull fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Depressed skull fractures (DSF) with operation indications should be paid with enough attention because they have several complications and can influence esthetics. The optimal surgical method for DSF remains unclear. We explored the merits of dissociate bone flap cranioplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 2006 to August 2012, we performed 30 craniotomies on patients with DSF, which were divided into 2 groups: 1 group, which consisted of 18 patients, underwent dissociate bone cranioplasty; the other 12 patients underwent lever-up cranioplasty. A helical computed tomographic scan was routinely obtained after the operation and a 3-dimensional technique was performed on some patients to evaluate the postoperative condition of the flap. RESULTS: Dissociate bone flap cranioplasty was performed on the 18 patients [11 men, 7 women: age, 26-70 (41) y]. No complications were observed in these patients. Lever-up cranioplasty was applied in the 12 patients [8 men, 4 women: age, 19-60 (41.8) y]; 2 patients had wound infection and 2 emerged with epidural hematoma. Obvious statistical significance of stability (P = 0.013) and position (P = 0.015) was found between the 2 methods. CONCLUSIONS: Dissociate bone flap cranioplasty is safer, more flexible, has less complications, and has better plasticity. We advocate the use of bone flap cranioplasty in dealing with DSF.

A new approach to the treatment of nasal bone fracture: radiologic classification of nasal bone fractures and its clinical application.

PURPOSE: A radiologic examination is required in the treatment of nasal bone fracture to determine the fracture condition. Thus, there is an increasing need for radiologic classification of nasal bone fractures that can be applied to clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography was performed in 125 patients with nasal bone fractures to determine which axial view best showed the entire nasal view. The obtained axial view was then used as a reference for classification. The length from the top to the base of the nasal bone was divided into upper, middle, and lower levels, after which the fracture location was determined. If the fracture spanned the boundaries of these levels, it was classified as the total level. Subsequently, the fracture was subclassified based on the fracture direction and pattern and the concurrent fracture. RESULTS: Radiologic examination of patients with nasal bone fracture showed that nasal bone fracture was frequently found at the total, middle, upper, and lower levels, in that order. Nasal bone fractures at the upper level showed lower frequencies of complication and reoperation than the fractures at the other levels, whereas nasal bone fractures at the total level showed the highest frequencies of complication and reoperation. CONCLUSION: Radiologic classification can be useful for preoperative and postoperative evaluations of nasal bone fractures and can be helpful in understanding such fractures because it can efficiently predict the prognosis of a fracture.