What type of skull fracture goes through the full thickness of the skull?

Comminuted skull fractures are characterized by the fracture lines that create multiple pieces of bone and extend through the full thickness of the skull. This type of fracture typically results from high-energy trauma, such as a severe impact, and can lead to significant damage to the surrounding brain tissue and the membranes that protect the brain. The full-thickness nature of a comminuted fracture means that the fracture spans from the outer layer of the skull to the inner surface, increasing the risk of intracranial complications.

In contrast, depressed skull fractures involve a portion of the skull being pushed inward, which may not necessarily mean the entire thickness of the skull is affected. Linear skull fractures are simple cracks that extend along the surface of the skull without breaking through to the inner cavity, while fracture-dislocations entail a combination of a fracture and dislocation of the skull at the joints. Thus, comminuted skull fractures are distinct due to their multi-fragmented nature and penetration through the entire skull structure, making them a serious concern in trauma cases.