Introduction: A depressed skull fracture is an inward buckling of the skull bones. It is referred to as a ping-pong ball fracture in neonates; in older children, some fractures take a cup shape mimicking 'ping-pong' ball fractures.
Objective and methods: The aim of this study was to assess the use of an obstetric vacuum extractor to elevate cup-shaped depressed skull fractures in children irrespective of age. All children admitted into the Central Hospital of Yaounde between 1999 and 2004 with a cup-shaped simple depressed skull fracture and treated with the vacuum extractor were included.
Results: Nine children aged from 3 months to 17 years were treated with the vacuum extractor. The cosmetic and radiographic results were satisfactory. The procedure was simple and without any complication.
Conclusion: The elevation of 'ping-pong-ball-like' or 'cup-shaped' skull fractures in older children (beyond the neonatal period) is a simple, effective and safe procedure.
Copyright 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.