The Evolution of Modern Treatment for Depressed Skull Fractures

Abstract

Surgery for depressed skull fractures has developed over centuries to attain the consensus approaches currently used. This review outlines the last 200 years of development of surgical approaches to closed and open depressed skull fractures, fractures involving dural venous sinuses and ping-pong fractures involving infants. Early reports often dealt with only closed and open depressed skull fractures. However, experience has shown that each fracture category merits its own management strategies. Accepted approaches are based on observation only; there is little to no scientific evidence to support treatment for any fracture type.