What is the severity of a skull fracture?
Skull fractures can vary in severity, and the extent of the injury depends on: the affected bone or bones how deep the fracture is whether or not the fracture also affects the skin, blood vessels, sinuses, and mucous membranes
What causes a fracture of the skull?
The underlying cause of a skull fracture is a head trauma that is significant enough to break at least one bone. People with a skull fracture need treating as soon as possible. Skull fractures can vary in severity, and the extent of the injury depends on: the affected bone or bones
Can a fractured skull be prevented?
Skull fractures can often be prevented. Wearing protective headgear when riding bicycles or participating in other sports in which head injuries are possible, such as football and rock climbing, can prevent a skull fracture. How serious is a fractured skull?
What is the weakest part of the skull?
It is the weakest part of the skull. The pterion is located approximately two finger widths above the zygomatic arch and a thumb’s width posterior to the upward portion of the zygomatic bone. Head and traumatic brain injuries are major causes of immediate death and disability, with bleeding and infections as possible additional complications.
What is the most common skull fracture?
Linear skull fractures. This is the most common type of skull fracture. In a linear fracture, there is a break in the bone, but it does not move the bone. These patients may be observed in the hospital for a brief amount of time, and can usually resume normal activities in a few days.
Which type of skull fracture is most likely to be caused by the impact of a blunt object such as a hammer or rock?
A depressed skull fracture is a type of fracture usually resulting from blunt force trauma, such as getting struck with a hammer, rock or getting kicked in the head.
What type of bone fracture is expected to be found in the skull?
A linear skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone resembling a thin line, without splintering, depression, or distortion of bone. A depressed skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone (or "crushed" portion of skull) with depression of the bone in toward the brain.
Where is a basilar skull fracture?
A basilar skull fracture, or skull base fracture, is a type of traumatic head injury that involves a break in at least one of the bones at the base of the skull. The base of the skull is a complex structure that forms the floor of the cranial cavity and separates the brain from the head and neck.
What is longitudinal fracture?
Longitudinal fractures are fractures that occur along (or nearly along) the axis of the bone. This is most often used in the context of a long-bone fracture although traditional classification of temporal bone fractures also used this term.
What is oblique bone fracture?
Oblique fractures occur when your bone is broken at an angle. The fracture is a straight line that's angled across the width of your bone. They're usually caused by landing on your bone at an angle after a fall, or when your bone is hit suddenly from an angle (like in a car accident).
Which cranial fossa is prone to more fractures?
The middle cranial fossa is the weakest, with thin bones and multiple foramina. Other places prone to fracture include the cribriform plate and the roof of orbits in the anterior cranial fossa and the areas between the mastoid and dural sinuses in the posterior cranial fossa.
What are 4 types of skull fractures?
What are the major types of head injuries?Hematoma. A hematoma is a collection, or clotting, of blood outside the blood vessels. ... Hemorrhage. A hemorrhage is uncontrolled bleeding. ... Concussion. A concussion occurs when the impact on the head is severe enough to cause brain injury. ... Edema. ... Skull fracture. ... Diffuse axonal injury.
What type of skull fracture is most common following high energy direct trauma to a small surface area of the head with a blunt object?
Depressed skull fractures, as shown in the image below, result from a high-energy direct blow to a small surface area of the skull with a blunt object such as a baseball bat.
What is occipital skull fracture?
Occipital condylar fractures are uncommon injuries usually resulting from high-energy blunt trauma. They are considered a specific type of basilar skull fracture, and importantly can be seen along with craniocervical dissociation.
What is basal skull fracture?
Basilar skull fractures, usually caused by substantial blunt force trauma, involve at least one of the bones that compose the base of the skull. Basilar skull fractures most commonly involve the temporal bones but may involve the occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid, and the orbital plate of the frontal bone as well.
How common are basilar skull fractures?
Surgery may be performed to seal a CSF leak that does not stop, to relieve pressure on a cranial nerve or repair injury to a blood vessel. Prophylactic antibiotics do not provide a clinical benefit in preventing meningitis. A basilar skull fracture occurs in about 12% of people with a severe head injury.
What are the different types of skull fractures?
The different types of skull fracture include: Simple fracture: Where the skull fractures without damaging the skin. Linear fracture: Where the fracture is one thin line with no additional lines splintering from it and no compression or distortion of the bones. Depressed fracture : Where the fracture causes displacement of the bone toward the brain.
How to tell if you have a skull fracture?
The symptoms of a skull fracture may include: a headache or pain at the point of impact. a bump or bruise. bleeding from a wound. bleeding from the ears, nose, or eyes. clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose. bruising behind the ears or under the eyes. feeling drowsy, confused, or irritable.
What is a depressed fracture?
Depressed fracture: Where the fracture causes displacement of the bone toward the brain. Compound fracture: Where there is a break in the skin and a splintering of the skull bone. Some skull fractures can cause bleeding or swelling in the brain, which can compress the underlying brain tissue and result in brain damage.
Why does my skull break?
The skull can break, or fracture, if it is subject to a direct and forceful impact. The underlying cause of a skull fracture is a head trauma that is significant enough to break at least one bone. People with a skull fracture need treating as soon as possible. Skull fractures can vary in severity, and the extent of the injury depends on: ...
What percentage of people with moderate head injuries will remain in a vegetative state?
An estimated 25 percent of people with moderate head injuries will retain some degree of disability. Between 7 and 10 percent of people with a moderate head injury will remain in a permanent vegetative state or will die as a result of their injuries.
How to prevent head trauma?
These include: wearing appropriate safety gear when taking part in sports. wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle. avoiding alcohol and wearing a seat belt when driving.
Can a skull fracture be linear?
Skull fractures can either be linear, which means that they have a single fracture line, or communicated, where multiple fracture lines are present. It is also possible to describe fractures as either open or closed.
