Growing Skull Fracture [GSF], a Hydrodynamic Perspective: An Original Article

Drapkin Allan J

doi:10.36959/595/421

Abstract

Growing skull fracture (GSF) is a well-known complication of pediatric cranial trauma but its physiopathology has been, so far, only assumed. When the basic laws of hydraulics are applied to the underlying GSF pathology, a clearer understanding of the process involved in it emerges and accounts for the frequent spontaneous arrest of the skull erosion. Moreover the process causing the commonly associated intra-axial pathology is also better defined.

Highlights

Since Howship’s report of a “partial absorption of the parietal bone” [1] and the first pathological description of that condition [2] it has become known most frequently under the name, given by Pia and Tönnis [3], of Growing Skull Fracture (GSF)
Skull erosion and post-traumatic leptomeningeal cyst are other appellations given to this same nosological entity that consists of a skull fracture that evolves into a skull defect
Its detection in adult life but stemming from a childhood head trauma is occasionally encountered in clinical practice [6,7], but its occurrence in adult life, derived from an adult head trauma is rare [8]

Summary

Introduction

Since Howship’s report of a “partial absorption of the parietal bone” [1] and the first pathological description of that condition [2] it has become known most frequently under the name, given by Pia and Tönnis [3], of Growing Skull Fracture (GSF). Skull erosion and post-traumatic leptomeningeal cyst are other appellations given to this same nosological entity that consists of a skull fracture that evolves into a skull defect. GSF has become a well-recognized entity, an infrequently found pathology in the pediatric head trauma population. Ninety per cent of GSF is encountered in children under the age of 3-years [4,5]. Its detection in adult life but stemming from a childhood head trauma is occasionally encountered in clinical practice [6,7], but its occurrence in adult life, derived from an adult head trauma is rare [8]

Material and Methods

Findings

Discussion