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Depressed skull fractures in children: Treatment using an obstetrical vacuum extractor

V de Paul Djientcheu1, A K Njamnshi, P Ongolo-Zogo

  • 1Neurosurgery Service, Central Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroun. vincent_djientcheu@yahoo.com

Pediatric Neurosurgery
|August 12, 2006
PubMed

Insights

An obstetric vacuum extractor effectively elevates depressed skull fractures in children. This simple, safe procedure yields satisfactory cosmetic and radiographic outcomes for cup-shaped fractures.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric neurosurgery
  • Craniofacial surgery
  • Trauma surgery

Background:

  • Depressed skull fractures involve inward buckling of cranial bones.
  • Neonatal fractures are termed 'ping-pong ball fractures'.
  • Older children may present with cup-shaped fractures resembling ping-pong balls.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of obstetric vacuum extractors for elevating cup-shaped depressed skull fractures in children.
  • To assess the procedure's safety and outcomes across various pediatric age groups.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of children treated with vacuum extractor for simple, cup-shaped depressed skull fractures.
  • Study period: 1999-2004 at the Central Hospital of Yaounde.
  • Inclusion criteria: Children with cup-shaped simple depressed skull fractures treated with vacuum extractor.

Main Results:

  • Nine pediatric patients (3 months to 17 years) were treated.
  • The vacuum extractor procedure was successful in all cases.
  • Satisfactory cosmetic and radiographic results were achieved with no complications.

Conclusions:

  • Obstetric vacuum extractor is a simple, effective, and safe method for elevating cup-shaped skull fractures in children beyond the neonatal period.
  • The technique offers a viable treatment option for these specific pediatric cranial injuries.
Abstract

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