
Bruises on the forehead sometimes cause black eyes 1 to 3 days later. For the same reason, small cuts on the head may bleed a lot. This is because there is a large blood supply to the scalp. Big lumps (bruises) can occur with minor injuries. This is especially common when a child is learning to walk. It is common for children to fall and hit their head while growing up. Examples are a cut, scrape, bruise or swelling. Most head injuries only damage the scalp. nhs.uk/Conditions/Head-injury-severe-/Pages/Treatment.aspx ( cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/TBI-surveillance-report-2016-2017-508.pdf Analysis of factors influencing outcome of depressed fracture of skull. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

You may also experience changes in personality or behavior. Changes could include the loss of motor skills such as speech, vision, hearing, or taste. If the brain was severely injured, you may experience short- or long-term physical and mental changes that may require treatment or rehab.

Can a fractured skull cause problems later in life? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2017, 27 percent of people with a severe brain injury did not survive. Most people who have a fractured skull survive.
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Other factors such as age and overall health can also affect recovery.Ī 2018 study found people with depressed skull fractures were more likely to make a full recovery if they were younger, had a mild head injury, were brought to the hospital for treatment right away, and had little to no injury to the brain. In some cases, physical, occupational, or speech therapy may be recommended to help with recovery. If you’ve had a serious brain injury, you’ll most likely need help to regain full brain function. If the brain was injured or surgery was required to treat the skull fracture or underlying brain injury, it may take weeks or months to fully heal. Most skull fractures heal on their own over time. How long does it take to recover from a fractured skull? For more serious injuries, surgery may be necessary. For mild fractures, treatment may be minimal and include medication and observation in the hospital or at home. It also depends on whether the brain was injured, and if it was, how severely. The seriousness of a skull fracture depends on the type of fracture. Surgery may also be necessary if the depression puts pressure on the brain or if there’s cerebrospinal fluid leakage. This is because depressed skull fractures have a harder time healing on their own.ĭepressed skull fractures could result in not only cosmetic issues, but also potential for further injury to the brain if the fracture isn’t corrected. Surgery is more often a required course of treatment for depressed skull fractures if the depression is severe enough. However, a basal fracture may require surgery if it results in excessive leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid that cushions and surrounds the brain and spinal cord) from the nose and ears. Although narcotics may sometimes be necessary, most people with a skull fracture only need over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a short course. In some cases, such as in basal skull fractures, medication to manage pain may be all that’s needed. Some skull fractures aren’t too painful, and the skull will heal itself in a majority of these instances. Your doctor will take into consideration your age, health, and medical history, as well as the type of fracture, its severity, and any resulting brain injuries. Treatment will depend on several factors. Skull fractures aren’t managed like other bone fractures.

Basal fractureĪ basal fracture occurs in the floor of the skull: the areas around the eyes, ears, nose, or at the top of the neck, near the spine. This refers to a fracture that causes the skull to indent or extend into the brain cavity.
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Open fractureĪlso known as a compound fracture, an open fracture occurs when the skin is broken and the bone emerges. With a closed fracture, also called a simple fracture, the skin that covers the fracture area isn’t broken or cut. Different types of fractures lead to differing levels of injury and trauma. The type of skull fracture depends on the force of the blow, the location of the impact on the skull, and the shape of the object making impact with the head.Ī pointier object is more likely to penetrate the skull than a hard, blunt surface, such as the ground.
