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Fractura de cráneo - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Fractura basal del cráneo; Fractura lineal del cráneo; Fractura con hundimiento del cráneo

Definición:

Es una fractura o rotura en los huesos craneales (cráneo).

Ver también: conmoción cerebral

Consideraciones generales:

La fractura de cráneo puede presentarse con lesiones en la cabeza. A pesar de que el cráneo es fuerte, resistente y provee una excelente protección al cerebro, un golpe o un impacto severo pueden ocasionar una fractura del cráneo que puede estar acompañada de lesión al cerebro.

El cerebro puede resultar afectado directamente por el sangrado y daño al tejido del sistema nervioso. El cerebro también puede estar afectado indirectamente por los coágulos sanguíneos que se forman debajo del cráneo y que luego comprimen el tejido cerebral subyacente (hematoma subdural o epidural).

Una fractura simple es una rotura en el hueso sin daño de la piel.

Una fractura lineal es una rotura en un hueso craneal que se asemeja a una línea delgada, sin astillamiento, depresión ni distorsión del hueso.

Una fractura con hundimiento es una rotura en un hueso craneal (o "aplastamiento" de una porción del cráneo) con depresión del hueso hacia el cerebro.

Una fractura abierta involucra excoriación o pérdida de piel y astillamiento del hueso.

Causas:

  • Traumatismo craneal
  • Caídas, accidentes automovilísticos, agresión física y deportes
  • Reviewed last on: 1/14/2010
  • Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Biros MH, Heegaard WE. Head injury. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 38.

Leveque JC. Hoff JT. Neurosurgery. In: Greenfield LJ, Mulholland MW, Oldham KT, Zelenock GB, Lillemoe KD, eds. Greenfield's Surgery: Scientific Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005:chap 114.

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