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Complications

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Most patients make a rapid and complete recovery from a compound, depressed fracture of the skull. Possible complications may include:

  • infection:
    • usually meningitis
    • 11-15% of patients with an acute CSF leak will become infected
    • a persistent CSF leak give an 85% chance of infection by 10 years
    • commonest pathogen is Streptococcus pneumoniae

  • epilepsy:
    • occurs in 24% of cases
    • more common when the dura is torn, when focal signs are present, or when post traumatic amnesia exceeds 24 hours
    • the incidence is not altered by removal of bone fragments

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