Skull fractures among head injured patients attending accident and emergency Hospital (Teaching) in Duhok City, Iraq

Abstract

Objectives: To study the frequency of pattern, types and anatomical location of SF, in relation to the mechanism of injury, occupation and other important social and demographic variables. Also, to assess the outcome of SF within one year.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study on cases having SF attending Accident and Emergency Hospital (Teaching) (AEH) in Duhok City. This study has involved patients having a fresh SF; they were clinically evaluated, stabilized and thereafter subjected to plain skull X-ray (PSXR) and spiral computed tomography (CT) scan examination; no contrast was given; only few of them had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study.

Results: There were 88 (62.7 %) males and 52 (37.3 %) females. Age ranged from 4 months 70 years, mean 10 years ± 13.5 standard deviation. Patients coming from urban regions formed 85 (60.7%), those from rural areas constituted 55 (39.3%).The most common causes were fall from height (FFH) 98 (70%), followed by road traffic accidents (RTA) 25 (17.9%), assault 4 (2.86%), ceiling fan injury 4 (2.86%), fall of heavy object on the head 3 (2.14%), penetrating injuries by missiles 4 (2.86%) and 2 (1.43 %) injured by unusual material (trauma by a thrown rock 1), and by sharp rotating machine –Kosara. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was as follow: 13-15 in 110 (78.6 %), 9-12 in 19 (13.6%) and 3-8 in 11(7.9%) patients.

Conclusions: Patients sustaining HI are mainly young age groups; males are more involved than females. The main causes were FFH, RTA, and assault. The majority of SFs are single, simple, and linear in their patterns.