Any type of head or brain injury is one that requires immediate medical attention, as the steps you take upfront will have a lot to say about what happens in the future.
A skull fracture is one of the most serious types of head injury, as it can result in a variety of other medical ailments, such as bleeding on the brain.
If you suspect that you have a skull fracture, your medical team will run a variety of tests to determine exactly what's going on. While some skull fractures require surgery, others can be treated with close observation and/or a variety of medications.
Here are the four most common types of skull fracture:
- Depressed skull fracture: This is when part of the skull is sunken, which often requires surgery to avoid a long-term deformity.
- Linear skull fracture: The most common type of skull fracture, this is when the bone breaks but doesn't move.
- Diastatic skull fracture: With this type of skull fracture, the normal suture lines of the skull widen.
- Basilar skull fracture: Often considered the most serious skull fracture, this occurs when there is a break at the base of the skull.
There is no way to accurately diagnose a skull fracture on your own, so you shouldn't wait to consult with a professional.
Once you understand the types of skull fracture, you can learn more about the best treatment strategy.
Depending on the cause of this catastrophic injury, you may want to revisit the accident with an eye toward holding the negligent party responsible for his or her actions.