[Traumatism of the posterior fossa in children]

Abstract

Reported are 15 cases of children who suffered injuries to their posterior fossa and the subsequent formation of hematomas and their treatment by the physicians in the Neurosurgical Department of the Traumatology Hospital "Magdalena de las Salinas". Of the 15 cases, 11 had epidural hematomas (three of them with supratentorial extensions), one was subdural, two were cerebellar and another of the brainstem. Seven were considered acute, five were subacute and three were chronic. During their admittance to the hospital, five of the patients were in a state of coma, another five were sleepy or confused and the remaining five were conscious. Three of the patients were conservatively treated, two of which had sequelae or were moderately handicapped. Twelve of the patients were surgically intervened suboccipitally, eleven of which successfully recovered and one of which died. A history of brain injury, occipital fracture and signs of posterior fossa lesions lead to suspect the presence of posterior fossa hematoma.