The natural history of an untreated growing skull fracture: an unusual case.
BACKGROUND
An uncommon complication of fractures of the skull is a growing skull fracture (GSF), which is usually seen in children less than 3 years of age. A posttraumatic GSF presenting in adolescents and adults is uncommon and may cause significant management problems.


METHODS
A 16-year-old male presented with a progressively increasing scalp swelling following trauma in infancy. The diagnosis and treatment was delayed until the swelling had enlarged to enormous size with ventriculomegaly and development of seizures. The patient was managed with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.


CONCLUSIONS
Untreated GSFs may cause delayed-onset neurological manifestations in addition to cranial growth asymmetry. These enormous-sized GSFs may be difficult to treat.
Department of Neurosurgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. drnavi2007@yahoo.co.in
Navneet
N
Singla
Sunil Kumar
SK
Gupta
D000293:Adolescent; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt