Pattern of Skull Fractures in Cases of Head Injury By Blunt Force

The study of pattern of skull fractures is important as head being the most exposed and prominent part of body; it becomes most susceptible to injuries, as a result of criminal violence or accident. The skull fractures, especially by blunt force offer varying diagnostic and medico-legal problems to the medical jurists as well as to the clinicians. 100 cases of intracranial head injury by blunt force for the present study were selected from the dead bodies which were sent to the mortuary, King George's Medical University, Lucknow for medico-legal post-mortem examination. In 100 cases of intracranial lesions, 4 cases sustained fracture of the skull without any injury to the scalp and in 36 cases injuries of both scalp and skull were present. Maximum cases were in the age group of 41–50 yrs while the cause of fracture in maximum number of cases (90%) was direct trauma. Of the various cases with skull fracture, 50% cases were of fissured type, while 30% were depressed and 20% comminuted.