treatment
Last reviewed 01/2018
Seek expert advice.The aim of treating a depressed, compound skull fracture is to prevent infection by:
- wound debridement - remove hair, necrotic scalp, dirt
- elevation of bone fragments and removal of necrotic brain if necessary
- prophylactic broad spectrum antibiotics should not be given
- prophylactic anticonvulsants - e.g. phenytoin
Ideally, all steps are to be done within 6 hours or at most, 12 hours.
A dural substitute - e.g. fascia lata from the thigh - may be necessary if part of the dura has been lost. This stops the dura from sticking to the skin and reduces the risk of tearing blood vessels if later cranioplasty needs to be done.