Korean J Neurotrauma.  2023 Mar;19(1):63-69. 10.13004/kjnt.2022.18.e49.

Basilar Skull Fractures and Their Complications in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

• Shafiei M
• Aminmansour B
• Mahmoodkhani M
• Seyedmoalemi M
• Tehrani DST

• KMID: 2552673
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2022.18.e49

Abstract

Objective
Since traumatic brain injury is more common in young people, who are the main workforce and builders of society, it is important to consider the effects caused by brain injury on them. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations, complications, and prognosis of patients with basilar skull fractures.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2021 to March 2022 at the Kashani Hospital, Esfahan, Iran. Patients with basilar skull fractures were included in this study by census for one year. Recorded patient information was divided into two parts: demographic information, including age and sex, and disease information including loss of consciousness, signs of meningitis, need for surgery, and neurologic examination.
Results
In this study, 100 patients were included, of whom 89 were men. The most common complication was pain at the site of the trauma, followed by bruising and bleeding from the site of the trauma. Raccoon eyes and cerebrospinal fluid leakage were observed in 19% and 32% of the patients, respectively.
Conclusion
As the occurrence of trauma has an economic burden on the country's health system, we must identify its consequences and problems and prevent its occurrence as much as possible by implementing educational measures.

Keyword

Basilar skull fracture; Traumatic brain injury; Cerebrospinal fluid; Intracranial hemorrhage