@article{ref1,
title="Conservative & surgical management of depressed skull fractures",
journal="Medical forum monthly",
year="2008",
author="Lehri, S.A. and Agha, S.F. and Tareen, M.S. and Lehri, I.A. and Goraya, A.A.J.",
volume="19",
number="12",
pages="26-32",
abstract="AIM: The aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of a conservative and surgical management of depressed fractures skull. Material and methods: A prospective study of 120 patients with depressed skull fractures treated at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital from December 2003-2007. There were 108 males and 12 females, age range was 12 month to 80 years, and the mean age was 40 years. All patients underwent X-ray and cranial CT scan. Depressed fractures due to missile injuries were excluded from the study. <br><br>RESULTS: Object fall on the head was the cause of depressed fracture in 30% of our patients, fall from a height in 19%, road traffic accident in 20%, sports injury in 10%, assault in 19.8% and suicidal attempt in 1.2%. Parietal bone was injured in 44%, frontal bone in 32%, temporal bone in 18% and occipital bone in 6%. Seventy-two percent were compound depressed fractures and 28% were simple depressed fractures. Eighty-four patients were managed conservatively, 56 patients with compound fractures (66.7%) and 28 patients (33.3%) with simple fractures. Significant extra-axial haematoma was the indication for elevation of the fracture in 40% of the surgical group, significant wound contamination, brain tissue and CSF in the wound in 5%, frontal sinus involved in 15%, cosmetic deformity in 25%, fracture on the superior sagittal sinus in 10% and right sided hemiplegia in 5%. <br><br>CONCLUSION: our study demonstrates that 70% of patients with depressed skull fractures can be safely managed conservatively without major surgical intervention.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1029-385X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}