Sella turcica fractures in a trauma series and their clinical significance.
BACKGROUND
Fractures in the region of the sella turcica (ST) are usually associated with severe blunt head trauma and may produce many complications. The true incidence is difficult to assess since there have been only about 30 cases reported in the literature.


METHODS
A total of 470 computed tomography (CT) sections--with optimum bone window images of skull bone--of 1600 head trauma patients who were admitted between 1979 and 1992, inclusive, to the Neurosurgery Department of Gazi University Medical School were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
There were a total of 17 patients with a fracture of the ST, constituting an incidence of 3.6%, and there was a preponderance of children.


CONCLUSIONS
Computed tomography was very helpful in assessing the extent of ST fractures. In our cases, these fractures were not associated with a high complication or death rate, although a cerebrospinal fluid fistula was present in 53%.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000293:injuries*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis*