Skull Fracture
Skull fracture is a break of one or more bones of the skull. Isolated skull fractures themselves are often not very serious. However, the presence of one or more fractures may indicate more serious brain damage. Pieces of skull can often cause internal injuries such as ruptured blood vessels, or brain laceration.
There are three main types of skull fractures. The Basilar skull fracture is a fracture at the base of the skull and requires a great deal of force. They are often caused by blows to the back of the head or sudden deceleration of the trunk but not the head. Linear skull fractures are the most common type of fracture, here the skull is deviated inward, and are usually caused by diffuse impact with a large surface. Comminuted fractures are those in which the bone shatters. Occasionally, bone fragments can often be driven into the brain causing further injury.