Clinical Analysis of Linear Skull Fractures

ABSTRACT

A retrospective analysis of 351 linear skull fractures, during the period of January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1993, reveals the following 1) Motor-Vehicle-related accidents were responsible for most of the injuries(56%), in which pedestrians(47%) were the primary victims. 2) In 172 cases(49%), the Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) ranged from 13 to 15. Patients wth parietal fractures usually rated on a lower scale than those with fractures on other sites. 3) Occipital fractures were most common(23%), which was followed by parietal(19%), temporal(15%), frontal(15%), and multiple fractures(8%). Occipital fractures were frequently due to a pedstrian T.A. or a fall from high elevation while temporal or parietal fractures were frequently due to bicycle and motorcycle accidents. 4) The incidence of associated intracranial lesions was 70%. Patients with occipital fractures had a lower percentage of associated intracranial lesions than those with parietal fractures. Coup injuries were found in 175 cases and contre coup injuries in 106 cases. In many cases, frontal, parietal and temporal fractures were found to be coup injuries whereas with occipital fractures, contre coup injuries. 5) Sixty-one percents of the patients were assessed in Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS) grade I.