Use of Vacuum-suction in Depressed Skull Fractures – Case Report and Technical Nuances of Nonoperative Treatment

• Main Authors: Rodrigo Moreira Faleiro, Sérgio Cavalheiro, João Tiago Alves Belo, Vítor Vieira de Souza Moraes, Aieska Kellen Dantas dos Santos, Ellano de Brito Pontes, Rodrigo de Oliveira Teixeira, Aretha Miranda Silva, Nathalia Lacerda Eller Costa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. 2020-10-01
• Series: Brazilian Neurosurgery
• Subjects: neurosurgery; pediatric neurosurgery; skull fractures; depressed skull fractures; vacuum-suction
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0040-1718423
• ISSN: 0103-5355; 2359-5922

Up to 20% of victims from skull fractures are represented by the pediatric population, and 50% of these lesions are depressed skull fractures. The treatment is multimodal in nature, ranging from conservative treatment to open surgical repair. The last one is associated, although in a small proportion, to complications, such as infections, hematomas and even death, besides the risks of the anesthetic procedure itself. The authors of the present article present a case report of the successful treatment of a depressed skull fracture in a newborn patient, using the vacuum-suction technique. The use of vacuum-suction may be beneficial for the pediatric patients, as it is a quick, non-invasive procedure, without the need for general anesthesia.