Enlarging skull fractures in children.

Abstract

Large skull fractures are conventionally followed radiographically until healing occurs. Fractures which enlarge or remain unhealed are commonly termed "leptomeningeal cysts" or "growing skull fractures". This study of ten children with this injury and a review of the literature shows that a true leptomeningeal cyst is seldom present and that skull fractures do not "grow". Moreover, careful history-taking and physical examination will correctly identify all enlarging or unhealed skull fractures of childhood without the need for plain radiographs or computed tomography of the skull.