Posttraumatic meningitis epidemiology

Posttraumatic meningitis in head injury is uncommon, with a reported incidence ranging from 0.38-2.03% 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9).

Occurs in 1–20% of patients with moderate to severe head injury 10).

Most cases occur within 2 weeks of trauma, although delayed cases have been described 11).

75% of cases have a demonstrable basal skull fracture, and 58% have obvious CSF rhinorrhea.

1)
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8)
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9)
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10)
Baltas I, Tsoulfa S, Sakellariou P, et al. Posttraumatic Meningitis: Bacteriology, Hydrocephalus, and Outcome. Neurosurgery. 1994; 35:422–427
11)
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