How serious is a base of skull injury?

Skull base fractures increase the risk of developing meningitis because of the possible contact of bacteria in the nose, throat, or ear with the central nervous system. Based on their location, skull base fractures can be divided into those affecting the anterior, middle, or posterior fossa.

How do you know if you have a skull injury?

Symptoms of skull fractures bleeding from the wound caused by the trauma, near the location of the trauma, or around the eyes, ears, and nose. bruising around the trauma site, under the eyes in a condition known as raccoon eyes, or behind the ears as in a Battle’s sign. severe pain at the trauma site.

How do you know if you have a bruised skull?

Symptoms include:

Raised, swollen area from a bump or a bruise.
Small, superficial (shallow) cut in the scalp.
Headache.
Sensitivity to noise and light.
Irritability.
Confusion.
Lightheadedness or dizziness.
Problems with balance.

What part of the brain is affected when you hit the back of your head?

The parts of the brain that are most commonly affected in traumatic brain injury are the frontal and temporal lobes. And part of the reason for that is that they’re up against bone, and it’s fairly rigid and rough bone.

What is base of skull fracture?

A basilar skull fracture is a break of a bone in the base of the skull. Symptoms may include bruising behind the ears, bruising around the eyes, or blood behind the ear drum. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurs in about 20% of cases and may result in fluid leaking from the nose or ear.

How long after head trauma can symptoms occur?

Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later.