Depressed Skull Fracture over Cranial Venous Sinuses

Abstract

Background Depressed skull fracture overlying venous sinuses deserves a special attention among skull fractures. It puts high demand on every neurosurgeon, as the management of this kind of trauma carry high risk of mortality. It is considered as one of the most dangerous complications of head injuries. Either it is due to fatal venous bleeding, or disturbing the intracranial pressure via thrombosis or stenosis. Therefore, knowledge of appropriate treatment of this kind of head injury is essential. Moreover, it should always be treated with high cautions. Aim of the Work This study aims at reviewing available scientific data based on clinical trials about the proper management approaches for the treatment of depressed skull fractures overlying major cranial venous sinuses. Either through surgery or medical and conservative management. Patients and Methods The study review yielded 22 relevant papers, with a total number of 85 patients. These patients presented to different institutes, at the period between 1996 and 2017. Diagnosed with depressed skull fracture overlying major venous sinuses. The cases divided according to the way of management as follow: 72% of patients treated with surgical approaches. While 28% of patients treated with conservative care. Results In total surgical intervention showed to be successful in 53 patients, out of 85 patients included in the study, without any intraoperative complication of bleeding. While 6 patients passed away during the surgical interventions. On the other hand, 18 patients who treated conservatively did not need any further intervention. While 2 studies reported the need of medication following surgery. Furthermore, 6 studies reported failure of conservative management, and needed urgent surgical elevation of the depressed fragment that compressing the sinus. Based on the results, the mortality rate over all was 7%; death was mainly due to inability to control the profusely bleeding from the injured sinuses. With a success rate over the surgical cases in 87%. While it was 75% over the conservative cases. However, this pooled data need further statistical analysis to obtain guiding evidence for current practice. Conclusions Clinical decision making must be tailored to each patient independently. In the presence of clinical and radiographic evidence of sinus occlusion surgery is preferred. In such instances where there is a clear need for surgery, adequate precautions should be taken, and an expertise in neurotrauma should always be available. Delayed intracranial hypertension is a possible complication and should always be considered in all patients.