[Pneumocephalus as sign of frontobasal skull fractures (author's transl)].

Pneumocephalus occurs as a complication after frontobasal skull fractures and points to a pressure difference between the extracranial and the intracranial space. From 8 cases observed during a period of 10 years, four case histories demonstrate the diagnostic principles and the surgical consequences. The diagnostic value of tomography of the frontal base for gaining an accurate picture of the topographic situation, and for proper application of intradural duraplasty, is underlined and characterized as a reliable procedure.