Though traumatic brain injury does not always involve a
fractured skull, the term "open head injury" is used when
the affected individual's skull is penetrated by an object,
such as a bullet or bone fragment. This differs from a
"closed brain injury", which involves a non-invasive blow
to the head through sports, a car accident, or another
incident. The term "open head injury" actually refers to
the condition of the skull rather than that of the brain;
there are different grades of severity in traumatic brain
injury of both the open and closed varieties. Open head
injury is usually diagnosed with the help of x-rays or
other technology such as CAT scans or tomography.
Side Effects of Open Head Injury
When the skull is broken, the delicate tissues of the brain
are exposed to further harm in the form of infections or
further injury during other blows. In addition, bone
fragments remaining from a traumatic brain injury such as a
fall or car accident can move around and injure the brain
after the initial traumatic event. While a fracture in the
skull can actually give the brain room to swell without
negatively impacting the brain, the brain is at risk for
infections in exposed tissue. In addition, an open head
injury can lead to more severe side effects such as
seizures, dementia or even paralysis.
Types of Skull Fractures
There are almost as many varieties of skull fractures as
there are ways in which the skull can be broken. The two
major varieties of skull fracture in open head injuries are
simple "linear" skull fractures and depressed skull
fractures.
Linear Fractures
The term "linear skull fracture" is used to refer to a
straightforward crack or break in the skull. Linear
fractures may be relatively minor and require little or no
treatment, though doctors will still want to diagnose and
treat the potential damage caused to the brain upon impact
and breakage of the skull. The placement of linear
fractures is important; when a linear skull fracture
extends into the sinus cavity, it may cause leakage of
cerebrospinal fluid through the ears or nose and may
require insertion of a drainage device. If the linear skull
fracture occurs near the base of the skull, it may cause
other complications such as nerve or artery damage.
Depressed Skull Fractures
The term "depressed skull fracture" is used to refer to a
situation in which the broken bone presses down into or on
top of the brain. Depressed skull fractures are common in
victims of traumatic brain injury whose heads have been
struck with blunt objects. A depressed skull fracture can
be compared to a "dent" in the skull; surgery is usually
required if the depth of the dent equals or exceeds the
thickness of the skull bone which surrounds it.
Treating Open Head Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury
There are several options for the victims of open head
injuries and related brain damage. As stated above, some
patients may require surgical intervention if the skull is
depressed beyond repair or to remove errant bone shards
that can threaten further brain injury. Bone fragments may
be removed or replaced with synthetic skull pieces to
protect the fragile brain tissue. In addition, some
patients whose open head injuries are never repaired may
have to wear a helmet to prevent re-injury in the case of a
fall due to a seizure or other event.
If You've Suffered From Open Head Injury or TBI
If you have suffered from brain injury due to a skull
fracture or other open head injury, you may be eligible for
compensation and damages to make up for medical expenses,
lost wages, and future medical care. Contact an experienced
brain injury attorney for more information on filing your
traumatic brain injury claim and recovering damages for
traumatic brain injury side effects.
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Suffering from a traumatic brain injury is a difficult time
for a victim, however, suffering from an open head injury
can be more serious and require extra care and attention.
To learn more about open head injury, visit
http://brain-injury.legalview.com . Also, use
http://www.LegalView.com to find information about other
legal topics including information on an auto accident
injury.
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