Skull Fracture
A skull fracture is a fracture or break in the cranial (skull) bones.
Considerations
- A skull fracture can present with head injuries. The skull provides excellent protection to the brain. However, a blow or strong impact could cause the skull to break. This may be accompanied by concussion or other injury to the brain.
- The brain could be directly affected by damage to the tissue of the nervous system and by bleeding. The brain may also be affected by bleeding below the skull. This could compress the underlying brain tissue (subdural or epidural hematoma).
- A simple fracture is a break in the bone without damage to the skin.
- A linear skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone that resembles a thin line, with no chipping, depression, or distortion of the bone.
- A collapsed skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone (or "flattening" of a portion of the skull) with depression of the bone into the brain.
- A compound fracture involves a break or loss of skin and chipping of the bone.
Subdural Hematoma
It is a collection of blood between the covering of the brain (dura) and the surface of the brain.
Causes
- A subdural hematoma is often the result of severe head trauma. This type of subdural hematoma is among the deadliest of all head injuries. Bleeding fills the brain area quickly, compressing brain tissue. This often causes head trauma and can lead to death.
- Subdural hematomas can also occur after minor head trauma. The amount of bleeding is less and occurs more slowly. This type of subdural hematoma is often seen in older adults. They can go unnoticed for several days to weeks and are called chronic subdural hematomas.
- With any subdural hematoma, the small veins between the surface of the brain and its outer covering (the dura) stretch and rupture, allowing blood to pool. In older adults, the veins have often already been stretched due to brain shrinkage (atrophy) and are more easily injured.
- Some subdural hematomas occur without cause (spontaneously).
- The following factors increase the risk of suffering a subdural hematoma:
- Blood thinning medications (such as warfarin or acetylsalicylic acid [aspirin])
- Prolonged consumption of alcohol
- Medical conditions that cause your blood to not clot properly
- Repetitive head trauma, such as from falls
- Being very young or very old
- In infants and younger children, a subdural hematoma can occur after child abuse.
