Basilar skull fracture: outcome of acute care without antibiotic prophylaxis in a Nigerian neurosurgical unit.

Abstract

AIM:

A prospective observational study of the in-hospital outcome of the management of BSF without antibiotic prophylaxis in a Nigerian neurosurgical unit.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

All cases of HI with clinical diagnosis of BSF over an 8-month period were reviewed. Their demographic, clinical, and in-hospital outcome parameters were analysed. We also compared some clinical and outcome characteristics between this study group and a contemporary cohort of patients in our unit with Head Injury but without CSF leak

RESULTS:

There were 47 cases. The CSF leak was from the nostrils in 18 (38.3%), the ears in 16 (34.04%), and both ears and nostrils in 12 (25.53%). The cause of injury was road accidents in 91%, and the severity of the Head Injury was mild, moderate and severe respectively in 42.55, 25.53 and 31.91%. Meningitis occurred in 2 patients (4.25%); in-hospital outcome was good in 68.1% and poor in 31.9% and this was significantly (p < 0.05) affected primarily by the severity of the brain injuries. These in-hospital outcome rates and their determinants were similar to those in our unit's contemporary cohort of Head Injury without BSF.

CONCLUSION:

Management of traumatic BSF without antibiotic prophylaxis in a developing country setting has not been accompanied with an increased rate of unfavourable outcome.

• Authors: Amos Olufemi Adeleye, Oladapo Olayemı
• Journal: Turkish neurosurgery (Turk Neurosurg) Vol. 20 Issue 4 Pg. 430-6 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 1019-5149 [Print] Turkey
• PMID: 20963690 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea (mortality, surgery)
• Developing Countries (statistics & numerical data)
• Glasgow Coma Scale
• Hospital Mortality
• Humans
• Meningitis (mortality)
• Nigeria (epidemiology)
• Postoperative Complications (mortality)
• Retrospective Studies
• Skull Fracture, Basilar (mortality, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome