[Basilar skull fractures: clinical and prognostic aspects].

The incidence of basilar skull fractures and their clinical and prognostic aspects were studied in victims with varying severity of brain injury. Of 947 cases, 449 (46%) patients were diagnosed as having basilar skull fracture and 181 (18.6%) had basal spinal fluid leakage. The frequency of fractures and basal spinal fluid leakage increased in proportion to the severity of brain injury. The above 14-day history of spinal fluid leakage was an absolute indication for surgical fistula closure.