![]() If you were involved in a car accident or other type of crash that was caused by another driver, you shouldn’t have to pay for your medical treatment or car repairs. What If the Car Accident Wasn’t Your Fault? Around 33 percent of people who suffer severe head injuries do not survive. Moderate and severe head injuries may leave a person with some degree of disability. Severe fractures that require surgery will take longer. Minor skull fractures can take about six weeks to fully heal. A depressed skull fracture may require treatment because they have difficulty healing on their own and often put pressure on the brain. Some breaks, such as a basilar skull fracture, may require surgery if there is leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid from the nose or ears. Seek medical treatment immediately, especially after a car wreck. X-rays provide a basic image of the skull MRIs take images of both the bone and soft tissue and CT scans produce a 3D image of the fracture and any damage to the brain.ĭo not try to treat a skull fracture on your own - you don’t know how severe the damage may be. Unless a fracture is open and severe enough to require immediate neurosurgery, a doctor will order a variety of imaging tests to get a clear understanding of what kind of fracture was caused by the accident. Shining a light on the pupils can tell a physician if any large lesions have formed. The doctor will check a patient’s cardiac and pulmonary functions before conducting a neurological exam. In most cases, skull fractures can heal on their own and medication can be used to manage the pain. Skull fractures are managed differently compared to other fractures. Bruising, swelling, pressure, and pain are some of the indicators that there may be a brain bleed. A brain bleed (also known as a contusion) happens when blood pools around the area where the head was struck. If the impact was heavy enough or an object penetrated the skull, then a brain bleed can occur due to a fractured skull. Other imaging tests will be needed to confirm the exact location of the fracture. Occult Skull FractureĪn occult fracture means the injury is hidden or does not appear clearly on an X-ray. This type of fracture is most often seen in newborns and infants. Sutures are the lines between the bones that fuse together during childhood. ![]() Diastatic Skull FractureĪ fracture occurs along the skull’s sutures. Comminuted Skull FractureĬomminuted head fractures are when a piece of the skull breaks into three or more sections. With a linear head fracture, the skull breaks in a relatively straight line. The fracture may affect the smaller bones around the eyes, ears, nose, or top of the neck. Basal Skull FractureĪ basilar fracture affects the frontal and bottom parts of the skull. With a depressed head fracture, the skull is dented, pushing inward into the brain. Open Skull FractureĪlso referred to as a compound fracture, an open skull fracture features broken skin with the skull or pieces of the skull pushing through. There may be swelling or tenderness around the area of impact. Closed Skull FractureĪlso referred to as a simple fracture, a closed fracture means that the skin covering the injured area isn’t broken or cut. The type of skull fracture a person suffers in an auto accident depends on the force of the crash, the impact location on the skull, and the shape and material of the object impacting the head. In a car accident where a person strikes the steering wheel or windshield, the bones on the front of the skull - the frontal (forehead), maxillary (nasal bones), and zygomatic (cheekbones) - are the skull bones most likely to be injured. The cranium is composed of 16 bones: eight major and eight auxiliary. Less severe symptoms may also appear, particularly in conjunction with a concussion or traumatic brain injury: Swelling and tenderness beneath the scalp.Facial bruising around the eyes (raccoon eyes) or behind the ears.Clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose.Be on the lookout for symptoms that may indicate a fracture: Skull Fracture SymptomsĪ skull fracture injury is not always obvious. Additional care may be needed if the brain was injured in the accident as well. ![]() Treatment for a head fracture depends on the severity of the injury.
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