FRACTURE OF BASE OF SKULL

Abstract

the surgical records of the Boston City Hospital show 530 cases of fracture of the base of the skull.The total fractures of all kinds treated, both in the hospital and as ambulatory cases in the out-patient department, is 35,816.Fracture of the base of the skull stands ninth in frequency; this number, of course, represents only those which came to the hospital alive.Many of these cases never come under treatment, because the other injuries to the brain suffered at the same time cause immediate death.By the courtesy of the staff of the hospital we have been able to analyze these cases.After finishing this study we are convinced that it has been worth the time, because (1) we found that the records of these particular cases arc well kept in detail; (2) the number of cases is large enough to give a fair idea of the frequency of symptoms; (3) certain conclusions as to treatment and prognosis seem to be warrantable.