Skull Fractures - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The skull is the bony skeleton of the head that consists of the cranium which surrounds the brain and the facial skeleton. A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull caused by a head injury. Skull fractures may occur with head injuries. Although the skull is tough, resilient, and provides excellent protection for the brain, a severe impact or blow can result in fracture of the skull. In most cases of skull fracture the bone is cracked without any displacement of the broken pieces. This is what is known as a closed fracture or simple fracture. A simple fracture is a break in the bone without damage to the skin. Isolated skull fractures are not very serious injuries, but usually the presence of a skull fracture indicates that significant enough impact occurred to cause brain trauma, which is quite serious. Many skull fractures do not require surgery. Depressed skull fractures are an exception. In this type of fracture, one or more fragments of bone may press inward on the brain, damaging the brain. To prevent infection and the formation of abscesses, doctors remove foreign materials and dead tissue and repair as much of the damage as possible. They lift skull fragments back into position and stitch the wound closed.

Causes of Skull fractures

The common causes and risk factor's of Skull fractures:

• Head injury.
• Falls, automobile accidents, physical assault, and sports.

Symptoms of Skull fractures

Some sign and symptoms related to Skull Fractures are as follows:

• Loss of consciousness.
• Stiff neck.
• Drainage of clear or bloody fluid from ears or nose.
• Restlessness, irritability.
• Changes in pupils (sizes unequal, not reactive to light).
• Visual disturbances.
• Headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Treatment of Skull fractures

• If bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean cloth to control blood loss over a broad area.
• If blood soaks through, do not remove the original cloth. Rather, apply additional cloths on top, and continue to apply pressure.
• Many skull fractures require surgery.
• If there is discharge from an ear, cover the ear with a sterile dressing or clean pad, lightly secured with a bandage.
• Be prepared to give chest compressions and rescue breaths if needed.