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Diagnosis and treatment of frontobasal skull fractures

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Abstract

During a five-year-period (January 1990 to December 1994) a total of 67 patients were operated on for frontobasal skull fractures. The indication for surgical treatment was based on the evidence of fractures encroaching paranasal sinuses or the cribriform plate on high-resolution axial or coronal CT scans. The following clinical signs indicating frontobasal trauma were observed: 25 patients (37%) showed rhinoliquorrhea, 14 (21%) had racoon's eyes, and 2 (3%) had meningitis. Distinct dura laceration was observed intraoperatively in 64 of 67 patients (96%). In our experience, high resolution CT has proven to be a sensitive diagnostic tool for frontobasal skull fractures. With respect to the high coincidence of fractures and dura lacerations, the indication for surgical treatment based on CT findings seems to be justified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bonn, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Thomas Kral, Josef Zentner, Uwe Vieweg & Johannes Schramm

  2. Department of Neuroradiology, University of Bonn, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Laszlo Solymosi

  3. Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D - 53105, Bonn, Germany

    Thomas Kral

Authors
  1. Thomas Kral
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  2. Josef Zentner
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  3. Uwe Vieweg
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  4. Laszlo Solymosi
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  5. Johannes Schramm
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Kral, T., Zentner, J., Vieweg, U. et al. Diagnosis and treatment of frontobasal skull fractures. Neurosurg. Rev. 20, 19–23 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01390521

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01390521

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