Computed tomographic evaluation of depressed skull fractures and associated intracranial injury

Thirty-three patients with depressed skull fractures examined by cranial computed tomography were reviewed. CCT not only reveals the vast majority of depressed skull fractures but also reveals underlying hematoma and contusions, delineates the depressed fragment or fragments, and estimates the degree of intracerebral mass effect present. Scans may be grossly abnormal in patients who do well clinically. Thus, while CT findings are important in guiding proper therapy, the clinical status of the patient upon admission has far more prognostic value than the CT findings.