[Penetrating traumas to base of skull]

ABSTRACT

Penetrating traumata's to the skull is important cause of death special in industrial societies. The present study was done on twenty cases of penetrating traumas to base of skull; and patients were studied for Epidemiology, clinical symptoms, treatment procedures, evolution and prognosis. This research was done in a retrospective method on patients admitted to Mashhad Emdadi Hospital [Mashhad Emergency Hospital] from September 2003 to January 2004. Data concerning cause of incidence, clinical symptom, accompanying damage, procedures taken, and kind of treatment and prognosis were studied in all patients. On this study all twenty patients were male ranging in age from 20 to 58 years. Causes for hospital admittance were; fighting 17 cases [80%] war injuries, 3 cases and suicide, 1 case [5%]. [65%] received medical treatment and seven cases received surgery [35%] Surgery included extraction of hematoma from brain tissue or Subdural, brain debridement, repair of depressed skull fracture and orbit. Thirteen patients were treated concretively and seven patients had surgical operation and five died during treatment. Primary low GCS, shock and hypertension upon hospital admission abnormal pupil and high age of the person were all influential factors causing high-rate death level in patients. In addition to the result of this study, the literature show quick primary cure and accessibility to medical center are extremely important factors to decrease death rate and lessen damage due to penetrating trauma to the skull