title: Depressed skull fractures in children: Treatment using an obstetrical vacuum extractor.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Service, Central Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroun. vincent_djientcheu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Paul Djientcheu
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Njamnshi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ongolo-Zogo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ako
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Essomba
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sosso
mesh_terms: 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*