Stephen Schultz | September 28, 2026 | Personal Injury
Head trauma can cause serious injuries, including skull fractures. These injuries can result from car accidents, falls, assaults, and other incidents involving significant force to the head. The type and severity of a skull fracture can affect the symptoms, complications, and treatment required.
Learn about the types of fractured skull injuries you can suffer and what the treatments for each would involve.
Skull Fracture Types and Their Treatments
There are a variety of types of skull fractures that you can sustain in an incident that involves head trauma. The following are the most common.
Linear Skull Fractures
Linear skull fractures occur when the cranial bone breaks in a thin, straight line. The bone doesn’t move out of place or push inward. Slips and falls are common causes of these fractures, but collisions and sports accidents can also cause them.
A linear skull fracture can cause pain and a bump or a bruise at the site. Uncomplicated linear skull fractures often do not require surgery. Treatment may include observation, pain management, and monitoring for signs of brain injury or bleeding. Additional treatment may be necessary if complications are present.
Basilar Skull Fractures
A basilar skull fracture is a break in one or a few of the bones that make up the base of the skull. These injuries typically occur as a result of assaults or high-speed crashes. Signs can include bruising around the eyes or behind the ears, hearing problems, and cerebrospinal fluid leaking from the nose or ears.
Basilar skull fractures generally require hospital observation because they can be associated with serious complications. Many are managed without surgery, but surgical treatment may be necessary for persistent cerebrospinal fluid leaks, certain vascular or nerve injuries, or intracranial bleeding.
Depressed Skull Fractures
Depressed skull fractures occur when a piece of the broken skull pushes inward toward the brain. It can be the result of a blow to the head from a heavy and blunt object. You may be able to see the dent in the skull and could experience dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Seizures are possible, too.
Treatment depends on the severity of the fracture and associated injuries. Some depressed skull fractures require surgery to lift or remove bone fragments and address damage to surrounding tissue. Open or contaminated fractures may also require treatment to reduce the risk of infection.
Diastatic Skull Fractures
Diastatic skull fractures occur along the suture lines, which are the fibrous joints that connect the bones in the skull. These injuries impact infants and children most often because their skull bones have not yet fused completely. Severe trauma can cause it in adults, however.
Symptoms and complications can vary depending on the severity of the injury and whether there is an associated brain injury. Medical evaluation is important after significant head trauma, especially in infants and young children.
Treatment depends on the fracture and any associated complications. Some cases may only require observation, while surgery may be necessary when there is significant displacement, damage to the tissue surrounding the brain, or another serious complication.
Contact the Ladue Personal Injury Attorneys at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
A skull fracture can require significant medical treatment and may lead to lasting complications. If another person’s negligence or wrongful conduct caused your injury, you may have the right to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other qualifying losses.
At Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers, we can investigate what caused your injury, gather evidence, and help you pursue compensation from the responsible parties. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Ladue personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.
We proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County and Boone County and we have offices in St. Louis, Ladue, Columbia, Creve Coeur.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
319 N 4th Street, Suite 835, St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 444-4444
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Columbia Office
28 N 8th St # 502, Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 702-3285
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Ladue Office
9807 S 40 Dr, St. Louis, MO 63124
(314) 912-3302
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
999 Executive Pkwy Dr #205, Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314) 350-4021
