Intracranial hypertension caused by a depressed skull fracture resulting in superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in a pediatric patient: treatment with ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion.
OBJECTIVE
Intracranial hypertension resulting from compression of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) by an overlying depressed calvarial fracture is a rare condition. Primary surgical treatment for the symptomatic patient in this setting traditionally involves elevation of the fracture, which often carries significant associated morbidity.


METHODS
The authors report a case involving a 6-year-old boy who suffered a closed, depressed, parietooccipital fracture as the result of an unhelmeted all-terrain vehicle accident. This fracture caused compression and subsequent thrombosis of the SSS, which resulted in CSF malabsorption and progressive intracranial hypertension. Initially headache free following the injury, he had developed severe and unremitting headaches by postinjury Day 7. A CT angiography study of the head obtained at this time exhibited thrombosis of the SSS underlying the depressed calvarial fracture. Subsequent lumbar puncture demonstrated markedly elevated intrathecal pressures. Large volumes of CSF were removed, with temporary improvement in symptoms. After medical management with anticoagulation failed, the decision was made to proceed with image-guided ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion.


RESULTS
The patient's headaches resolved immediately following the procedure, and anticoagulation therapy was reinstituted. Follow-up images obtained 4 months after the injury demonstrated evidence of resolution of the depressed fracture, with recanalization of the SSS. The anticoagulation therapy was then discontinued. To the authors' knowledge, this report is the first description of ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion as the primary treatment of this infrequent condition.


CONCLUSIONS
This report demonstrates that select patients with this presentation can undergo CSF diversion in lieu of elevation of the depressed skull fracture-a surgical procedure shown to be associated with increased risks when the depressed fracture overlies the posterior SSS. The literature on this topic is reviewed and management of this condition is discussed.
Forbes
Jonathan A
JA
Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-9557, USA.
Reig
Adam S
AS
Tomycz
Luke D
LD
Tulipan
Noel
N
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002648:Child; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D038361:Neuronavigation / Q000379:methods*; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D020225:Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020204:Skull Fracture, Depressed / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D054063:Superior Sagittal Sinus; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000379:methods*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D017984:Enoxaparin; D006493:Heparin