A break in the cranial (skull) bones. A fractured skull may involve visible damage to the cranial bones, including heavy bleeding; but a skull fracture can be hidden by the hair. Symptoms of a skull fracture can include bruising or discoloration behind the ear or around the eyes; blood or clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose; unequal-sized pupils; or deformity of the skull, including swelling or depressions. Other symptoms may include loss of consciousness, memory lapses or amnesia (loss of memory), blurred vision, confusion, irritability, and headache.
Loss of the integrity of one or more bones of the cranium. A fracture is classified according to whether it is in the vault or the base but, from the point of view of treatment, a more useful classification is differentiating between a simple fracture (uncommon) and a compound fracture. When a compound fracture occurs in the vault of the skull, the bone is depressed and driven inward, possibly damaging the brain. Treatment is operative.