Depressed Skull Fractures (Cerebral Concussion)

Figure comm_15a_n.jpg: Depressed skull fractures are not always or immediately clinically or radiologically recognizable. In contrast, this 1-year-old boy has clinically a distinct frontal dent on the right. Figure comm_15b_n.jpg: 5.8-year-old boy with a missed clinical diagnosis of a depressed skull fracture because the fracture was within the beginning hair zone and initially filled up with blood; therefore, the pathognomonic dent became visible and palpable only a few days later. Figure comm_15c_n.jpg: Operative findings of an 8.8-year-old boy with a depressed skull fracture of the type of a partial green-stick fracture prior to and following elevation using a bore-hole. Figure comm_15d_n.jpg: This depressed skull fracture in an infant was initially misinterpreted as a double-contour caused by projection, although this sign is suspect of a depressed skull fracture and needs fluoroscopy, or CT today. Figure comm_15e_n.jpg: In all cases of depressed skull fractures, especially in those with scalp laceration or avulsion, a CT is necessary, except for the ping-pong type observed in otherwise well-doing neonates. In case of depressed skull fractures with scalp laceration and/or with comminution of the bone, there is often an underlying compound depressed fracture of the skull.