Skull fracture injuries

When the force of a blow or something else breaks the skull, a fracture occurs. Causes of a skull fracture may include sports, bicycling or car accidents. A minor to serious injury can result when someone in South Carolina breaks part of the cranial bone, and multiple types of skull fractures can occur.

Fractures vary according to factors like the object that connects with the head, the force it connects with and where one is hit. A closed fracture means that the skin did not break while the bone emerges from the skin with an open or compound fracture. Depressed fractures may require surgery and happen when the skull extends into the brain cavity, and a fracture is comminuted when three or more sections are broken.

Initially, a physical examination could reveal a head injury. A physician would then likely order a CAT scan, X-ray or MRI to identify the location and type of fracture that one received. Treatment would depend on the type of fracture and the patient’s history. Some fractures can heal and only pain medication may be needed, but other skull fractures could require surgery. When a skull fracture is not obvious, serious symptoms may include swelling, redness or bruising around the trauma site, pain where the injury occurred and bleeding from the wound or the eyes, ears or nose.

Car accidents can jostle motorists and passengers around or cause them to hit windows, and skull fractures and other injuries might result from a wreck. If a blow to the head took place, one may need to seek medical attention even if no obvious injuries are present. If the injury occurred because of a driver’s negligent behavior, the responsible party may be liable for the medical expenses incurred by the victim.

Source: Healthline, “Skull Fractures“, Mary Ellen Ellis, December 20, 2014