Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Acute Brain Trauma in Mice Followed By Longitudinal Two-photon Imaging
Published on: April 6, 2014
Early diagnosis and treatment of growing skull fracture
Xiaoyu Wang1, Guoping Li, Qiang Li
1Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Early diagnosis and surgical treatment of growing skull fractures (GSF) in children are crucial. Identifying high-risk factors like cephalohematoma and seizures in young children leads to better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Radiology
Background:
- Growing skull fracture (GSF) is a rare but serious complication of pediatric skull fractures.
- GSF can lead to delayed neurological deficits and cranial asymmetry if not treated promptly.
- Early intervention is key to preventing long-term complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis of GSF.
- To highlight effective early treatment strategies for GSF.
- To identify risk factors associated with GSF development in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 6,916 pediatric linear fracture cases treated between 2000 and 2013.
- Inclusion criteria: diagnosis/treatment within 30 days, age ≤3 years with cephalohematoma, immediate seizures, brain damage, or bone diastasis ≥4 mm.
- Identification of patients with early diagnosis and surgical intervention.
Main Results:
- Eighty-six patients met the inclusion criteria; 22 were diagnosed with GSF.
- Falls were the most common cause of injury, with cephalohematomas being the most frequent symptom.
- Parietal region fractures were most common; early surgical repair of dura and skull correlated with good outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric patients ≤3 years with cephalohematoma, brain damage, bone diastasis ≥4 mm, or immediate seizures are at high risk for GSF.
- Prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment of GSF in these high-risk children yield favorable results.
Background:
Growing skull fracture (GSF) is a rare complication of pediatric skull fractures and causes delayed-onset neurological deficits and cranial asymmetry. Early treatment is pivotal to prevent those complications. The aim of this study is to highlight the early diagnosis and treatment of GSFs.
Materials And Methods:
Between January 2000 and June 2013; 6,916 children with linear fracture were treated in three separate hospitals. Inclusion criteria were: Patients who were diagnosed and treated within 30 days and had one or more following features: (a) 3 years or less age with cephalohematoma; (b) seizures immediate to the injury; (c) underlying brain damage; and (d) bone diastasis 4 mm or more. A review was retrospectively carried out to identify those patients who had early diagnosis and surgical intervention.
Results:
Eighty-six patients met the inclusion criteria and all had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. Twenty-two patients had GSF, fall was the most frequent cause of injury and cephalohematomas the most common symptom. The most common injury site was the parietal region. Early surgical repair of dura and skull was associated with good outcomes.
Conclusions:
The patients aged 3 years or less with cephalohematoma, underlying brain damage, bone diastasis ≥4 mm on computed tomography (CT), and seizures immediate to the injury were high risk group for developing GSFs. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment of GSF can yield a good outcome.
More Related Videos
08:25Intravital Imaging of Fluorescent Protein Expression in Mice with a Closed-Skull Traumatic Brain Injury and Cranial Window Using a Two-Photon Microscope
Published on: April 21, 2023
09:53Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Related Concept Videos
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:26Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History: