Linear Skull Fracture
Even the smallest of auto accidents can wind up causing traumatic injuries that can lead to expensive medical bills. One of these injuries is a linear skull fracture.
The Definition of a Linear Skull Fracture
A linear skull fracture is one of the most common types of skull fractures seen in the medical community. It can also range widely in severity. There are several criteria that must be met to meet the definition of a linear skull fracture. These include:
- A crack in the bony surface of the skull
- This crack is not elevated or depressed out of line with the rest of the bony surface.
- The fracture has not splintered into multiple pieces.
This fracture can range in size from a millimeter to the length of the skull.
How is this Fracture Sustained?
This fracture is commonly seen as a result of trauma such as a motor vehicle accident. When the car comes to a sudden stop, the passenger will commonly keep moving forward due to momentum. While the body is strapped in place, the head is still free to move. The head can strike the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. If the force is applied in a perpendicular direction to the surface of the skull, the skull can develop a linear skull fracture.
What is the Approach to Treatment?
There are a number of factors that determine the treatment approach. These include:
- The patient symptoms
- The imaging results
- The location of the fracture
- The size of the fracture
If the fracture is small, the patient may simply be told to use caution and wait for the fracture to heal. If the patient has minor symptoms with the fracture, the symptoms could be treated with over the counter or prescription medications. If the patient has serious symptoms that are deemed life threatening, the patient could require surgery.
The Complications of a Linear Skull Fracture
Most of the complications come as a result of the fracture location. While symptoms such as pain, headache, and bleeding are common with a traumatic injury to the skull, serious complications include intracranial bleeding, trouble seeing or hearing, and potential brain damage if the force is severe. With a severe force, several other structures could be damaged.
Other Structures that could be Damaged
There are vital structures in the area that could be at risk depending on the location of the skull fracture. These include:
- Cranial Nerves
- Intracerebral vasculature, including the Circle of Willis
- The Brainstem
- The various lobes of the brain
- The spinal cord
All of these structures could be injured with a linear skull fracture accompanied by severe force. If any of these structures are compromised, this could lead to potentially fatal complications.
What Makes Up the Differential Diagnosis?
When a skull fracture is sustained, there are several injuries that physicians will consider. In addition to a linear skull fracture, other possible diagnoses include:
- Depressed skull fracture
- Basilar skull fracture
- Epidural hematoma
- Subdural hematoma
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Brain contusion
These will be ruled in or out based on X-ray, CT scan, and MRI results.
How Does the Prognosis Look?
The prognosis of this injury depends largely on the size, location, and associated force that causes the fracture. While some minor skull fractures may require no treatment, others can cause serious brain damage that can impact the recovery. This is best discussed with a medical professional on a case by case basis.
The Reasons for Surgery
A linear skull fracture is non-displaced from the skull by definition. Most non-displaced structures do not require surgery; however, if the force was severe enough to cause brain swelling or brain bleeding, surgical intervention might be needed to stop the bleeding and control the swelling. Brain swelling can lead to cerebral herniation which could kill a patient.
Davis Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Davis car accident lawyer. If you’ve been injured in an accident due to the negligent acts of another person, please call me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
I’ve been serving the Davis community in matters involving wrongful death and personal injury for 35 years.
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