Turkish Neurosurgery 2010 , Vol 20 , Num 4
Basilar Skull Fracture: Outcome of Acute Care without Antibiotic Prophylaxis in a Nigerian Neurosurgical Unit
Amos Olufemi ADELEYE1, Oladapo OLAYEMİ2
1University of Ibadan, College of Medicine Department of Surgery, Division of Neurological Surgery, Ibadan, Nigeria
2University of Ibadan, College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ibadan, Nigeria
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.3038-10.1 Aim: A prospective observational study of the in-hospital outcome of the management of BSF without antibiotic prophylaxis in a Nigerian neurosurgical unit.

Material and Methods: All cases of HI with clinical diagnosis of BSF over an 8-month period were reviewed. Their demographic, clinical, and in-hospital outcome parameters were analysed. We also compared some clinical and outcome characteristics between this study group and a contemporary cohort of patients in our unit with Head Injury but without CSF leak

Results: There were 47 cases. The CSF leak was from the nostrils in 18 (38.3%), the ears in 16 (34.04%), and both ears and nostrils in 12 (25.53%). The cause of injury was road accidents in 91%, and the severity of the Head Injury was mild, moderate and severe respectively in 42.55, 25.53 and 31.91%. Meningitis occurred in 2 patients (4.25%); in-hospital outcome was good in 68.1% and poor in 31.9% and this was significantly (p <0.05) affected primarily by the severity of the brain injuries. These in-hospital outcome rates and their determinants were similar to those in our unit's contemporary cohort of Head Injury without BSF.

Conclusion: Management of traumatic BSF without antibiotic prophylaxis in a developing country setting has not been accompanied with an increased rate of unfavourable outcome. Keywords : Basal skull fracture, Antibiotic prophylaxis, Developing countries, Skull facture

Corresponding author : Amos Olufemi Adeleye, femdoy@yahoo.com