title: Diagnosis and treatment of frontobasal skull fractures.
abstract: During a five-year-period (January 1990 to December 1994) a total of 67 patients were operated on for frontobasal skull fractures. The indication for surgical treatment was based on the evidence of fractures encroaching paranasal sinuses or the cribriform plate on high-resolution axial or coronal CT scans. The following clinical signs indicating frontobasal trauma were observed: 25 patients (37%) showed rhinoliquorrhea, 14 (21%) had raccoon's eyes, and 2 (3%) had meningitis. Distinct dura laceration was observed intraoperatively in 64 of 67 patients (96%). In our experience, high resolution CT has proven to be a sensitive diagnostic tool for frontobasal skull fractures. With respect to the high coincidence of fractures and dura lacerations, the indication for surgical treatment based on CT findings seems to be justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bonn, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zentner
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vieweg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solymosi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schramm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed