Frontal sinus fractures in the pediatric population.

Full development of the frontal sinus is not achieved until approximately 19 years of age. An evaluation of frontal sinus injuries isolated to the subset of patients less than 20 years old has yet to be reported. In order to determine whether age was a factor in the clinical course of patients with frontal sinus fractures, 209 patients who sustained frontal sinus fractures from January 1985 to April 1990 were identified using the trauma registry from all six major trauma centers, one of which is a pediatric trauma center, in a county of 2.5 million people. Forty patients (19%) were between the ages of 6 and 19 years at the time of their injury. Computed tomography imaging of these pediatric patients identified associated head and neck fractures in 37 (93%) as well as significant central nervous system injury in 22 (55%). Seventeen pediatric patients were treated nonoperatively and 1 died prior to the planned surgery. A detailed analysis of extent of injury and treatment together with a comparison of the 169 adult and the 40 pediatric patients is presented.