INTRACRANIAL COMPLICATIONS OF CONGENITAL DERMAL SINUSES
Ten patients are presented in whom intracranial extension of a congenital dermal sinus was disclosed by operation. The complications of this lesion include infection in the form of meningitis, abscess formation and osteomyelitis as well as hydrocephalus due to obstruction of the spinal fluid pathways. In unexplained meningitis, the entire midline area of skin over the neural axis should be examined carefully for evidence of a dermal sinus opening. Whenever a dimple or subcutaneous mass is found in the midline of the scalp, RGs should be examined carefully for an underlying skull defect. When such a defect exists, intracranial exploration is indicated. Surgical treatment previous to development of intracranial infection is relatively simple and should be rewarded by complete cure. Excision after infection has occurred is difficult and the results in this group have been poor.