Types of Skull Fracture Injuries & Treatments

January 12, 2026 | Brain Injuries

Any traumatic incident in which you hit your head, from car crashes to workplace accidents, could mean facing a skull fracture. Skull fractures put you at risk of sustaining brain injuries that could impact you for the rest of your life. 

Continue reading to learn more about the various types of fractures you could sustain in an accident and the treatments that you may require. 

Types of Skull Fractures That Could Result in Personal Injury Claims

There are four main types of skull fractures. Even those that appear to be minor should be seen by a medical professional because brain damage is always a possibility with skull fractures. 

Linear Skull Fractures

These types of head injuries are thin-line breaks in the skull caused by trauma. These injuries don’t result in any bone shifts, depressions, or splinters. The fractures look like straight lines, and they tend to occur at the top of the head. Since the bone doesn’t splinter or shift, the brain is typically not severely damaged with these fractures, but bruising is possible. 

Most of the time, medical interventions aren’t necessary for linear skull fractures, but you must receive medical monitoring for at least a day. This ensures that any potential complications, like cerebral hematomas, can be caught and treated. If there are no issues, you can usually return to regular activities in a few days. 

Depressed Skull Fractures

A depressed skull fracture is one in which the force of the trauma causes the skull to cave in. It may happen with or without a visible cut on the scalp. Birth trauma can cause these injuries if physicians use a lot of force during the baby’s delivery. 

In most instances, a medical intervention will be necessary to fix a depressed skull fracture. It will depend on the severity of the injury and whether it puts any pressure on the brain. If you need an operation, you can expect a significant recovery process in which you could be limited in the activities you pursue. 

Diastatic Skull Fractures

Diastatic skull fractures involve the suture lines in the skull. These sutures are where the skull fuses during infancy. This type of injury causes the sutures to widen. Typically, these fractures only occur in infants and children. 

Basilar Skull Fractures

Basilar skull fractures are the most severe of these injuries you can sustain. The bone at the base of the skull is affected. Someone who sustained this type of injury will have bruising around their eyes and behind their ears. It’s also possible to have some clear fluid running out of the nose. This occurs if there are tears in the covering of the brain. 

A basilar skull fracture requires medical monitoring. You need to go to the hospital to ensure the injury begins to heal correctly. 

One particularly challenging version of a basilar skull fracture is the occipital condylar fracture. It usually occurs as a result of a high-speed car accident and can result in cervical spine instability and cranial nerve palsies.

Contact the Lancaster Brain Injury Lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates for Help Today

If you suffered a skull fracture because of another party’s misconduct in Lancaster, PA, it’s vital that you consider filing a personal injury claim to recover your losses. You could require extensive medical care and might need to take time off from work to recover. These losses can be a substantial financial blow. 

That’s where Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help. By speaking with our Lancaster brain injury attorneys about your options, you’re giving yourself a better chance of receiving compensation for medical expenses and your emotional suffering. Contact us today for a free consultation.

If you’ve been injured or need a lawyer to help you with your case, please contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Harrisburg
945 East Park Drive, Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640

Marzzacco Niven & Associates York
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 210A York, PA 17401
(717) 995-8998

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Wyomissing
833 N. Park Road, Suite 103, Room A Wyomissing, PA 19610
(717) 388-2325

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Chambersburg
79 St. Paul Drive, Suite 1 Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 388-2378

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carlisle
354 Alexander Springs Road Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 995-8732

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carbondale
30 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101 Carbondale, PA 18407
(717) 995-8810

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Lancaster
2173 Embassy Drive, Ste 123, Lancaster Pa 17603
(717) 616-2954

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Lebanon
937 Willow Street, Suite D Lebanon, PA 17042-1140
(717) 995-8963