ResidentTraumaFINALhighres

C. Presentation

Since the patients have been struck with a good deal of force, many

present in the emergency room in an unconscious state. The patient is

emergently assessed, as outlined in Chapter 1. In the course of investi-

gating for any central injury, a fractured frontal sinus may be apparent,

but is often overlooked by virtue of the emergency stabilization and

rapid evaluation required for a badly injured patient. The patient often

has had an unconscious period and suffers headache. The infraorbital

nerve may have been traumatized during the traumatic event, and the

patient may complain of forehead numbness. There may be epistaxis,

and the blood may be mixed with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Fractures

involving the anterior wall may produce deformity.

1. Anterior Wall Fractures

Linear fractures of the anterior wall are often overlooked, but even if

detected there would be no mandate to treat them. They may present

with a subgaleal hematoma that resembles a depressed fracture

because of its raised and irregular outline. Conversely, if the fracture is

depressed, it will appear as a distinct depression in the area of fracture.

However, if the patient is seen sometime after the occurrence of the

injury, the depression may fill with blood, and the displaced area will be

effaced.

Compound fractures are by definition in continuity with a forehead

laceration. These fractures are often comminuted. and depressed bone

fragments are seen in the depths of the cutaneous wound. Blood, CSF,

and even brain may be seen coming through the laceration.

2. Posterior Wall Fractures

Isolated posterior wall fractures are very uncommon. If present, they

are often part of a calvarial vault fracture. There are no presenting

differentiating symptoms. The dilemma regarding treatment centers on

distinguishing between a linear-only fracture versus a displaced

fracture. Only a fine-cut computed tomography (CT) scan taken in the

axial and sagittal planes will give enough definition to clearly establish

or rule out displacement. When the physician is in doubt, the fracture

should be treated.

A clear sign of a displaced posterior wall fracture is the presence of CSF

rhinorrea. If mixed with blood, the CSF leak can be identified by looking

for the “halo sign.” A drop of nasal drainage is allowed to fall on a

surgical towel. If the halo spreading from the central blood clot is more

than double the width of the clot, then this is a sign of a CSF leak and

thus an anterior dural tear.