Fractures of the base of the skull are extremely dangerous injuries. In most cases, they lead to irreversible damage to nerve tissues, and often their result is the death of the patient. According to statistics, such injuries are relatively rare - approximately 4% of traumatic brain injuries are fractures of the base of the skull.
The most common cause is a car accident. Much less often, a fracture appears with a strong blow to the lower jaw or nose, and also when falling from a great height.
Fracture classification
As you know, the base of the human skull consists of the occipital, temporal, ethmoid and
sphenoid bones. And similar injuries are classified by localization:
- fractures of the anterior cranial fossa are accompanied by bone injuries that cover the frontal lobes;
- if the bones covering the temporal lobes of the brain and the pituitary gland were damaged, then doctors talk about fractures of the middle cranial fossa;
- with injuries of the posterior cranial fossa, damage to the bones covering the cerebellum is observed.
In addition, fractures of the base of the skull can be diagonal, transverse, longitudinal (occur in 75% of cases), oblique, or be accompanied by a separation of the apex. Such damage is usually open. If the fracture is accompanied by the release of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, then in modern medicine it is considered as a penetrating trauma.
How dangerous is a fracture of the bones of the base of the skull?
In fact, such damage is extremely dangerous, since it entails serious consequences. A fracture disrupts not only the integrity, but also the localization of the bones of the skull, as a result of which hard tissues compress and even damage the brain, which, of course, cannot but affect the functioning of the nervous system.
For example, with a fracture of the temporal bones , damage to the auditory nerve is observed. If the injury is caused in the cerebellum, complications such as paralysis or impaired coordination may occur. The displacement of bones often violates the integrity of the cranial nerves.
In addition, an open wound on the head is the gateway to infection. The most common consequences of a fracture include brain abscess, inflammation and suppuration of the meninges.
The main symptoms of a fracture
Broken bones most often cause damage to a particular part of the brain, so the signs of such an injury can be very different. As a rule, most patients feel a severe headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Fractures of the base of the skull are also accompanied by bleeding and discharge of cerebrospinal fluid from the ears and nose. In some cases, blood builds up in the tympanum. Damage to the auditory nerve entails a decrease in hearing, and with trauma to the optic nerves, partial or complete blindness is observed. Symptoms include periocular ecchymosis - bruises that occur around the eyes and resemble glasses in shape.
Skull fracture: treatment
First aid comes down to immobilizing the victim and applying a sterile bandage to his head. Prior to the arrival of the medical team, it is necessary to maintain heat by warming a person with heating pads or bottles of warm water. Valocordin may be given to the patient.
As for the treatment, it all depends on the degree of damage to the bones and the brain. Most often, the patient needs large doses of antibiotics that prevent the activation of the infection. The decision on surgery is made only by the attending neurosurgeon. Unfortunately, even a successful operation is not a guarantee of the full recovery of the victim.