Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of 43 Cases of Occipital Condylar Fractures: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the mechanism of occipital condyle fractures (OCFs), their clinical symptoms, computer tomography (CT) scan findings, treatment options, and classification. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 patients with OCFs who were admitted to our neurosurgery center between 2017 and 2023. RESULTS: The investigation covered their clinical symptoms, CT scan results, and treatment outcomes. It was found that 25.6% of the patients suffered from severe craniocerebral injuries with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 3-8 points, 9.3% had moderate injuries with GCS scores of 9-12 points, and 65.1% exhibited mild injuries with GCS scores of 13-15 points. Of these patients, 90.7% showed improvement upon discharge, 4.7% succumbed to their injuries, and another 4.7% developed paraplegia. Symptoms indicative of OCF in individuals with CCJ injuries included neck pain, swelling, cranial nerve palsy, and posterior pharyngeal wall swelling. Frequently observed complications in OCF patients included cerebral contusion, occipital bone fractures, and skull base fractures. Employing thin-layer CT scans of the CCJ area, along with sagittal and coronal CT reconstructions, is essential for identifying OCFs. The fractures were classified into 3 types based on the Anderson-Montesano classification, which, when modified, provides enhanced treatment guidance. CONCLUSIONS: OCFs are predominantly present in cases of high-energy trauma, with high-resolution thin-layer CT scans serving as the preferred diagnostic method. The application of the modified Anderson-Montesano classification, distinguishing between stable and unstable fractures, facilitates the determination of suitable treatment strategies. Stable OCFs can be managed using a rigid neck brace, while unstable OCFs may require Halo-vest frame fixation or surgical intervention.

BoneTape: A novel osteosynthetic device for the stabilization of zygomatic fractures.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of BoneTape™, a new resorbable bone fixation device, using a zygomatic fracture model in rabbits. METHODS: The study followed BoneTape™ samples and control (sham) groups over 2-, 6-, and 12-week periods post-zygomaticomaxillary (ZM) osteotomy and zygomaticofrontal (ZF) disarticulation. The osteotomized segments were analyzed for bone healing, inflammatory response, and tissue healing. µCT imaging and histological analysis were used to examine the axial alignment, offset, and quality of new bone formation. RESULTS: BoneTape™ samples demonstrated enhanced maintenance of the initial intraoperative positioning, reduced axial offset, and better alignment when compared with the control group, enabling stable bone healing under physiological loading conditions. Complete union was observed at 12-weeks in both groups. The BoneTape™ group experienced minimal immune and tissue reactions, classically associated with wound healing, and showed an increased number of giant cells at 6 and 12-weeks. CONCLUSION: BoneTape™ represents a promising advancement in osteosynthesis, demonstrating efficacy in maintaining stable zygomatic reconstruction and eliciting minimal immune response in a rabbit model. This study introduces BoneTape™ as a disruptive solution specifically designed for clinical application in cranio-maxillofacial fracture fixation, with the potential to eliminate the use of over-engineered solutions while offering benefits such as ease of application and fewer biologically disruptive steps.

Clinical and imaging characteristics of growing skull fractures in children.

Growing skull fracture (GSF) is an uncommon form of head trauma among young children. In prior research, the majority of GSFs were typically classified based on pathophysiological mechanisms or the duration following injury. However, considering the varying severity of initial trauma and the disparities in the time elapsed between injury and hospital admission among patients, our objective was to devise a clinically useful classification system for GSFs among children, grounded in both clinical presentations and imaging findings, in order to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment decisions. The clinical and imaging data of 23 patients less than 12 years who underwent GSF were retrospectively collected and classified into four types. The clinical and imaging characteristics of the different types were reviewed in detail and statistically analyzed. In all 23 patients, 5 in type I, 7 in type II, 8 in type III, and 3 in type IV. 21/23 (91.3%) were younger than 3 years. Age ≤ 3 years and subscalp fluctuating mass were common in type I-III (P = 0.026, P = 0.005). Fracture width ≥ 4 mm was more common in type II-IV (P = 0.003), while neurological dysfunction mostly occurred in type III and IV (P < 0.001).Skull "crater-like" changes were existed in all type IV. 10/12 (83.3%) patients with neurological dysfunction had improved in motor or linguistic function. There was not improved in patients with type IV. GCS in different stage has its unique clinical and imaging characteristics. This classification could help early diagnosis and treatment for GCS, also could improve the prognosis significantly.

Management of frontal sinus fractures requiring surgical intervention: An analysis of a case series.

<b><br>Introduction:</b> Isolated frontal bone fractures constitute 5-15% of traumatic facial fractures cases, with frontal sinus fractures categorized into anterior wall, posterior wall, or complex fractures. The approach is tailored to fracture type and bone fragment displacement. This paper presents the summary of surgical management in patients with isolated and complex fractures of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus.</br> <b><br>Material and Methods:</b> Five patients with different frontal sinus fractures were treated surgically. The same management protocol - diagnosis and surgical intervention was implemented in all cases The retrospective analysis included fracture assessment, surgical approach, and long-term outcomes evaluation.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> The most common cause of fractures was falls, while two complex fractures involved the anterior and posterior walls. External approach, bone fragment removal, endoscopy, and external stabilization were employed in all cases. One patent required delayed revision surgery due to retaining metallic foreign body. Follow-up radiological examinations showed proper healing and cosmetic outcomes were satisfactory in all of the cases.</br> <b><br>Conclusion:</b> Surgical management of isolated fractures of the frontal sinus anterior wall, involving bone fragment removal, realignment, and endoscopy, yielded satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes without internal or external stabilization. Long-term monitoring and symptom assessment are crucial, especially in cases with penetrating injuries and foreign body risk.</br>.

A Prospective Cohort Study Characterizing Incidence of Dural Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Skull Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Limited retrospective data suggest that dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with skull fractures is common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Prospective data accurately characterizing the incidence of DVST in patients with high-risk TBI are sparse but are needed to develop evidence-based TBI management guidelines. METHODS: After obtaining institutional approval, 36 adult patients with TBI with skull fractures admitted to an Australian level III adult intensive care unit between April 2022 and January 2023 were prospectively recruited and underwent computed tomography venography or magnetic resonance venography within 72 hours of injury. When available, daily maximum intracranial pressure was recorded. RESULTS: Dural venous sinus abnormality was common (36.1%, 95% confidence interval 22.5%-52.4%) and strongly associated with DVST (P = 0.003). The incidence of DVST was 13.9% (95% confidence interval 6.1%-28.7%), which was lower than incidence reported in previous retrospective studies. Of DVSTs confirmed by computed tomography venography, 80% occurred in patients with extensive skull fractures including temporal or parietal bone fractures in conjunction with occipital bone fractures (P = 0.006). However, dural venous sinus abnormality and DVST were not associated with an increase in maximum daily intracranial pressure within the first 7 days after injury. CONCLUSIONS: Dural venous sinus abnormality was common in TBI patients with skull fractures requiring intensive care unit admission. DVST was confirmed in more than one third of these patients, especially patients with concomitant temporal or parietal and occipital bone fractures. Computed tomography venography is recommended for this subgroup of TBI patients.

The epidemiological characteristics of pediatric head injury in Hangzhou, China: a retrospective study based on cranial CT examinations.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to create a pediatric head injury database based on cranial CT examinations and explore their epidemiologic characteristics. METHODS: Data related to cranial CT examinations of pediatric head injuries from March 2014 to March 2021 were collected at outpatient and emergency department of a pediatric medical center. The causes of injury, observable post-injury symptoms, and cranial injury findings were extracted with the assistance of natural language processing techniques. RESULTS: Reviewing the data from records on 52,821 children with head injuries over a period of 7 years, the most common causes of pediatric head injury were falls (58.3%), traffic accidents (26.0%), smash/crush/strike (13.9%), violence (1.5%) and sports-related incidents (0.3%). Overall, most of those injured were boys which accounting for 62.2% of all cases. Skull fractures most commonly occur in the parietal bone (9.0%), followed by the occipital (5.2%), frontal (3.3%) and temporal bones (3.0%). Most intracranial hemorrhages occurred in epidural (5.8%), followed by subdural (5.1%), subarachnoid (0.9%), intraparenchymal (0.5%) and intraventricular (0.2%) hemorrhages. Spring and autumn showed more events than any other season. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest sample of epidemiological study of head injury in the Chinese pediatric population to date.

Development of AI-Based Diagnostic Algorithm for Nasal Bone Fracture Using Deep Learning.

Facial bone fractures are relatively common, with the nasal bone the most frequently fractured facial bone. Computed tomography is the gold standard for diagnosing such fractures. Most nasal bone fractures can be treated using a closed reduction. However, delayed diagnosis may cause nasal deformity or other complications that are difficult and expensive to treat. In this study, the authors developed an algorithm for diagnosing nasal fractures by learning computed tomography images of facial bones with artificial intelligence through deep learning. A significant concordance with human doctors' reading results of 100% sensitivity and 77% specificity was achieved. Herein, the authors report the results of a pilot study on the first stage of developing an algorithm for analyzing fractures in the facial bone.

How I do it: single-staged emergency neurosurgical management of frontal penetrating craniocerebral injury with depressed skull fracture.

CONTEXT: Penetrating craniocerebral injury associated with depressed skull fracture is an infrequent yet timely neurosurgical emergency. Such injury frequently occurs in the frontal region during traffic accident or stone throw in the civilian setting. As military neurosurgeons, we present our experience in the surgical debridement and reconstruction of this peculiar type of traumatic brain injury. METHODS: The patient lies supine, the head in neutral position heal by a Mayfield head clamp. The first step is the debridement of the frontal wound. Then, the depressed skull fracture is operated on using a tailored coronal approach through Merkel dissection plane, in order to keep a free pericranial flap. The bone flap is cut around the depressed skull fracture. Neuronavigation allows to locate the frontal sinus depending on whether it has been breached and thus requires cranialization. Brain and dura mater debridement and plasty are performed. Cranioplasty is performed using either native bone fragments fixed with bone plates or tailored titanium plate if they are too damaged. CONCLUSION: Performing wounded skin closure first and then a tailored coronal approach with free pericranial flap and a craniotomy encompassing the depressed skull fracture allows to treat frontal penetrating craniocerebral injury in an easy-to-reproduce manner.

Prediction of skull fractures in blunt force head traumas using finite element head models.

Traumatic head injuries remain a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Although skull fractures are one of the most common head injuries, the fundamental mechanics of cranial bone and its impact tolerance are still uncertain. In the present study, a strain-rate-dependent material model for cranial bone has been proposed and implemented in subject-specific Finite Element (FE) head models in order to predict skull fractures in five real-world fall accidents. The subject-specific head models were developed following an established image-registration-based personalization pipeline. Head impact boundary conditions were derived from accident reconstructions using personalized human body models. The simulated fracture lines were compared to those visible in post-mortem CT scans of each subject. In result, the FE models did predict the actual occurrence and extent of skull fractures in all cases. In at least four out of five cases, predicted fracture patterns were comparable to ones from CT scans and autopsy reports. The tensile material model, which was tuned to represent rate-dependent tensile data of cortical skull bone from literature, was able to capture observed linear fractures in blunt indentation loading of a skullcap specimen. The FE model showed to be sensitive to modeling parameters, in particular to the constitutive parameters of the cortical tables. Nevertheless, this study provides a currently lacking strain-rate dependent material model of cranial bone that has the capacity to accurately predict linear fracture patterns. For the first time, a procedure to reconstruct occurrences of skull fractures using computational engineering techniques, capturing the all-in-all fracture initiation, propagation and final pattern, is presented.

A Method for Precise Reduction of Facial Bone Fractures Using Intraoperative Ultrasound With a Solid Gel Pad as a Coupling Medium.

This study introduces a method to overcome technical challenges in using intraoperative ultrasound for the closed reduction of nasal bone and zygomatic arch fractures. The curvature of the face makes it difficult to apply an ultrasound probe to the facial area. We used a solid gel pad as a coupling medium during surgery to improve the scanning of facial bone fractures. The results show that the fracture sites observed on preoperative computed tomography scans can be easily visualized using intraoperative ultrasound, and real-time manipulation confirms successful reduction. The solid gel pad is light, malleable, easy to use, and provides accurate images. Overall, the use of ultrasound with a solid gel pad enhances the accuracy of closed reduction in facial bone fracture surgeries, confirming fracture patterns and ensuring precise reduction.

Utility of CT or X-ray in the management of adult nasal fracture.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the use of imaging in the management of nasal fracture in adults and determine if imaging is beneficial to clinical decision making when planning for surgery. A secondary objective of this study is to compare surgical rates for nasal fracture between pediatric and adult populations. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study of 357 patients seen at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center from January 2015 through January 2020 with a diagnosis of nasal fracture. An odds ratio was calculated to determine likelihood of surgical intervention between patients who had imaging of the nasal bones and patients who did not. RESULTS: 82 % of patients had either CT or X-ray imaging. The odds ratio of patients who had surgery after CT or X-ray imaging compared to patients who had surgery without prior imaging was 0.092 (95 % CI: 0.0448-0.1898, p-value <0.0001). A total of 54 (15 %) adult patients had surgery, in comparison to 50 % of pediatric patients with diagnosis of nasal fracture. 202 (57 %) of patients did not follow up after initial diagnosis by radiology. CONCLUSION: The statistical analysis suggests that while CT and X-ray are frequently obtained in the setting of nasal fracture, patients without imaging are more likely to have surgery (p < 0.05) than patients with imaging. This indicates that imaging is likely unnecessary for surgical planning. Most adults do not pursue surgery, and surgical rates for adults with nasal fracture are much lower than those of pediatric patients with nasal fracture.

Predictors of Middle Meningeal Artery-Related Vascular Diseases Associated with Blunt Head Trauma.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic middle meningeal artery (MMA)-middle meningeal vein (MMV) fistula (MMA-MMV fistula) and MMA pseudoaneurysm are the 2 main MMA-related vascular diseases occurring after blunt head trauma. These are rare but known causes of delayed intracranial hemorrhage. This study investigated predictors that may aid in the diagnosis of these diseases. METHODS: In our department, screening digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is performed for patients with blunt head trauma accompanied by intracranial hemorrhage and skull or facial bone fracture. This study included 87 patients who underwent screening DSA without craniotomy from January 2019 to June 2023. The patients' clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected from the database. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the associations of various evaluation items with MMA-related vascular diseases. RESULTS: The first DSA examination revealed 34 MMA-MMV fistulas and 1 MMA pseudoaneurysm. The second follow-up DSA examination revealed 13 MMA-MMV fistulas and four MMA pseudoaneurysms. Temporal/parietal bone fracture (odds ratio, 5.33; P = 0.0005; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-14.60) was significantly associated with MMA-related vascular diseases. Endovascular treatments were performed in 9 patients. All procedures were successfully completed without complications; no delayed bleeding was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal/parietal bone fracture in patients with blunt head trauma is a likely predictor of MMA-related vascular diseases. When initial head computed tomography reveals this pathology, we recommend careful imaging follow-up (e.g., DSA) and treatment as needed, while considering the possibility of MMA-related vascular diseases.

Perfecting the Outcome of Nasal Bone Fracture in the Pediatric Population With a Navigation System.

BACKGROUND: The trend of using navigation systems for treating facial bone fractures is increasing. Nevertheless, any detailed recommendation on using a navigation system to treat nasal bone fracture has never been discussed. Plastic surgeons are prone to do closed reduction of nasal bone fractures with remnant posttraumatic edema in the pediatric population. This study hypothesized that the navigation system benefits this population's treatment of nasal bone fractures. METHODS: The authors evaluated the medical records, plain x-ray, and facial computed tomography scans of 44 pediatric patients (below the age of 18) with nasal bone fractures treated with a closed reduction from May 2021 to December 2022. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography scan were used to assess the outcome. RESULTS: The average age for 44 pediatric nasal bone fracture patients was 10. Fifteen were female, while males were 29. All cases were successfully corrected clinically and radiologically without noticeable complications. CONCLUSIONS: Using navigation systems to correct nasal bone fractures provides additional benefits for the pediatric population. This technique is especially useful if the fracture is located at the junction between the nasal bone and nasal process of the maxilla and is combined with concurrent old nasal bone fractures.

Electric Scooter-related Craniofacial Injuries.

OBJECTIVES: Injuries associated with the use of electric scooters are a serious problem in modern society and traffic in relation to their increasing frequency of use. Although injuries involving all body parts are seen in such injuries, craniofacial ones are also very common. The aim of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial and other accompanying injuries in electric scooter-related accidents in Istanbul. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2020 and December 2022, patients with electric scooter-related trauma among the patients admitted to the emergency unit for trauma were evaluated retrospectively. All electronic medical records, CT scans, other examinations, and treatments were retrospectively reviewed, and craniofacial fractures and other injuries seen in the patients were classified. RESULTS: A total of 20.358 patients were admitted to the trauma unit between January 2020 and December 2022. Two hundred ten patients (142 male, 68 female) had electric scooter-related trauma and 58.1 % of them had craniofacial injuries. Thirty patients (14.3 %) (23 male, 7 female) had craniofacial fractures, whereas 43.8 % of them had craniofacial soft tissue injuries. The nasal fracture was the most common craniofacial fracture (14 patients, 46.7%). Orbital wall and zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures were found to be the second most common fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of electric scooter-related injuries among all trauma patients admitted to the emergency trauma unit during the mentioned period was 1.03%. The results of this study were found to be in accordance with the data in the literature. The craniofacial region is the most frequently injured body part in patients with electric scooter-related trauma, and patients should be comprehensively evaluated for possible soft tissue injuries, craniofacial fractures, and other accompanying system injuries.

Ultrasound for management of pediatric nasal fractures.

BACKGROUND: Nasal bone fractures are common in children but can be challenging to diagnose accurately in the first days due to swelling and tenderness. While X-rays and computed tomography have limitations, ultrasound may be a radiation-free and cost-effective alternative for diagnosing and treating nasal fractures. METHODS: A prospective cohort study at a tertiary referral hospital between 2021-2023. Children who had sustained nasal trauma were included. A radiologist and a non-radiologist blindly reviewed ultrasound scans, and the results were compared to the physical examination performed by a senior otolaryngologist. If closed reduction was necessary, ultrasound was employed during the procedure. The primary outcome was the assessment of nasal fractures in children using ultrasound; Secondary outcomes included success rates for closed reduction and test reliability. RESULTS: Of the 50 children (mean age: 11 years, interquartile range: 6-15 years, 36 [72%] males), 22 (44%) were clinically diagnosed with a nasal fracture. Interobserver reliability for nasal fracture by ultrasound was 92%, with a Cohen's kappa coefficient of k=0.91. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in detecting nasal fractures were 90% and 89%, respectively, with positive and negative predictive values of 86% and 93%, respectively. Closed reduction was performed on 18 children, with (n=11) or without (n=7) ultrasound, with the former showing better alignment results (82% vs. 71%). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound has a high negative predictive value in identifying nasal fractures in children with swollen noses during presentation. This enables to avoid further unnecessary referrals and interventions. Ultrasound-guided closed reduction of nasal fractures demonstrates improved outcomes; however, further large-scale randomized studies are required to validate our findings.

Management of Complications and Secondary Deformity After Fractures of the Midface, Orbit, and Upper Third of the Maxillofacial Skeleton.

Craniomaxillofacial trauma is a challenging entity to manage effectively and often necessitates serial evaluation and treatment. A multidisciplinary team is best served to evaluate and treat these complex injury patterns with the use of necessary adjuncts, such as neuronavigation, intraoperative imaging, custom implant use, and virtual surgical planning. Complications of facial trauma can present at a spectrum of time points and manifest in a variety of manners and as such patients should be observed closely and longitudinally. Although not all complications and secondary deformities can be avoided, this article highlights some common pitfalls and our unique management strategies.

Analysis of Nasal Bone Fractures: A 17-year Study of 3785 Patients.

In our previous study, we classified nasal bone fractures into 6 types based on computed tomography and the patterns of the nasal bone fractures (NBF) in 503 patients treated between 1998 and 2004. In the present study, we analyzed 3785 patients treated between 2005 and 2021. The age, sex, etiology, associated injuries, pattern of fractures, and treatments were reviewed, and radiographic studies were analyzed. The highest incidence was in the age group of 10 to 19 years (N=870, 23.0%), followed by 20 to 29 years (N=792, 20.9%) and 30 to 39 years (N=635, 16.8%). The most common causes of injury were slip or fall-down (42.3%), violence (24.3%), sports (19.2%), traffic accidents (8.9%), and work-related (5.3%). Most of the patients had tenderness (96.1%) and swelling (78.8%). Other findings were depression (27.1%) and nasal deviation (25.8%). Crepitus was heard in only 0.4% of the patients. The patterns of the NBFs classified by computed tomography findings were type IIA (unilateral simple fracture with displacement/without telescoping, 1283 cases, 33.9%), IIB (bilateral simple fracture with displacement/without telescoping, 786 cases, 20.8%), IIAs (unilateral simple fracture with septal fracture and displacement/without telescoping, 566 cases, 14.9%), IIBs (bilateral simple fracture with septal fracture and displacement/without telescoping 530 cases, 14.0%), I (simple fracture without displacement, 522 cases, 13.8%), and III (comminuted with telescoping or depression, 98 cases, 2.6%). In most of the cases (3,666, 96.9%), closed reduction was performed. The present analysis is one of the largest data sets on NBF in Korea, which could provide reference values for diagnosing and managing nasal bone fractures.