Depressed skull fractures in children: Treatment using an obstetrical vacuum extractor.
BACKGROUND
A depressed skull fracture is an inward buckling of the skull bones. It is referred to as a ping-pong ball fracture in neonates; in older children, some fractures take a cup shape mimicking 'ping-pong' ball fractures.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the use of an obstetric vacuum extractor to elevate cup-shaped depressed skull fractures in children irrespective of age. All children admitted into the Central Hospital of Yaounde between 1999 and 2004 with a cup-shaped simple depressed skull fracture and treated with the vacuum extractor were included.


RESULTS
Nine children aged from 3 months to 17 years were treated with the vacuum extractor. The cosmetic and radiographic results were satisfactory. The procedure was simple and without any complication.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevation of 'ping-pong-ball-like' or 'cup-shaped' skull fractures in older children (beyond the neonatal period) is a simple, effective and safe procedure.
de Paul Djientcheu
V
V
Neurosurgery Service, Central Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroun. vincent_djientcheu@yahoo.com
Njamnshi
A K
AK
Ongolo-Zogo
P
P
Ako
S
S
Essomba
A
A
Sosso
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D020204:Skull Fracture, Depressed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014620:Vacuum Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000295:instrumentation*