title: Bilateral abducens paralysis revealing bipartite spheno-occipital synchondrosis fracture in a child: case based update.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After reviewing the literature about sella turcica and spheno-occipital synchondrosis fracture, we present the case of a 6-year-old girl who suffered complex sphenoid bone fracture produced by an indirect mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The girl fell from her height after a blunt head injury due to a falling lamppost.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Computer tomography (CT) scan showed occipital, sellar and clival fractures with pneumatocephalus. The probable fracture mechanism is contre-coup injury linked to osseous and brain oscillations after head trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two complications, abducens nerve palsy and cerebrospinal fluid fistula, are observed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Amiens University Hospital, 80054 Amiens cedex 1, France. benicot9@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nicot
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peltier
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capel
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lefranc
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fichten
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desenclos
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Gars
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000293:injuries*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000293:injuries