Skull Fractures
"Many athletes use their heads physically during various sports activities. Examples include football players tackling opponents headfirst or soccer players performing headers with the ball. While these practices are common, they can also be dangerous and may lead to multiple head injuries, including skull fractures. But what exactly are skull fractures, and how can athletes recognize if they have one? This article aims to answer these questions by discussing the different levels of skull fractures, their symptoms, and appropriate treatment methods.
What is a skull fracture?
A skull fracture, also known as a traumatic brain injury, is a type of head injury where a part or parts of the skull are broken. The one major cause of these head injuries is a strong impact or blow to the head thats strong enough to break a bone. These typically include car accidents, falls, sports injuries, or physical assault. There are different types of skull fractures depending on how severe they are :
Simple Fracture: The skull fractures without damaging the skin
Linear Fracture: One thin crack with no additional lines splintering from it and no compression or distortion of the bones
Compound Fracture: Skin is broken and the bone emerges
Depressed Fracture: A fracture that causes the skull to indent or extend into the brain cavity
Comminuted Fracture: A fracture thats broken into three or more sections
What are the symptoms of skull fractures?
Skull fractures include numerous symptoms and can vary depending on the seriousness of the injury. These can include:
Dizziness
Confusion
Headache or pain at a point of impact
Bleeding from the head
Swelling from the head
Seizures
Poor memory
Bruising behind the ears or under eyes
Impaired vision
Clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose
Nausea and vomiting
Off balance
slurred speech
Stiff neck
Doctors typically diagnose a fracture through a physical examination and make use of tools like X-rays, CTs, and MRIs to image the skull which gives them the full extent of the injury.
How do you treat skull fractures?
Treatment can vary depending on the seriousness of the fracture with the more serious of them requiring immediate surgery. Less serious skull fractures should be monitored but can typically recover on it’s own. But in the event of a possible skull fracture, it is important to call 911 and try to avoid moving the person affected unless it is unavoidable and make sure to apply firm pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. In the case of normal skull fractures, most doctors will prescribe medicine to mediate the pain.
Conclusion:
The future of a person affected by a skull fracture depends on the severity and type of the injury. Always make sure to take precautions to prevent skull fractures such as wearing appropriate safety gear during sports and wearing a helmet when biking or motorcycling. Additionally, wearing a seatbelt can reduce the risk of skull fractures in the event of a car crash. While most skull fractures do not require a lot of extensive recovery methods unless it is severe, it’s important to monitor the injury closely regardless of the extent of the damage.
Sources:
Ellis, Mary Ellen. “Skull Fractures: Types, Causes, and Symptoms.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 20 Apr. 2023, www.healthline.com/health/skull-fracture#outlook.
“Skull Fracture: Types, Symptoms, and Long-Term Effects.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322871#takeaway. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.
“Skull Fractures.” UC Health, www.uchealth.com/en/conditions/skull-fractures#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20break%20in,These%20need%20surgery%20right%20away. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.