NREMT Paramedic Practice

Which type of head injury is characterized by scalp lacerations and cerebral contusions?

1. Open skull fracture

2. Depressed skull fracture

3. Concussion

4. Contusion

The correct answer is: Depressed skull fracture

The type of head injury characterized by scalp lacerations and cerebral contusions is a depressed skull fracture. In this type of injury, the skull is fractured inward, leading to direct trauma to the brain underneath the fracture site. This can cause both superficial injuries to the scalp, such as lacerations, and deeper injuries to the brain, including contusions, which are bruising of the brain tissue. Depressed skull fractures often occur due to high-energy impacts, such as falls or collisions, where the force is sufficient to break the skull and push fragments into the cranial cavity. This displacement creates an increased risk for complications such as hemorrhage, infection, and increased intracranial pressure. The presence of scalp lacerations is indicative of the external trauma that often accompanies this type of fracture, while cerebral contusions reflect the underlying brain injury. The other types of head injuries listed do not specifically feature both scalp lacerations and cerebral contusions in the same way. An open skull fracture involves a fracture that creates a direct communication between the scalp and the brain, but it doesn’t inherently involve cerebral contusions unless there is significant trauma. A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that does not typically present with lacerations or cont