Most skull fractures are which type and do not present with deformity?

• A. Linear fracture
• B. Depressed fracture
• C. Basal skull fracture
• D. Comminuted fracture

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that most skull fractures are linear: a simple crack that runs along the bone without the pieces being pushed out of alignment. This nondisplaced crack typically doesn’t change the skull’s outward contour, so there’s no visible deformity. In contrast, depressed fractures push bone fragments inward and create a noticeable indentation, basal skull fractures occur at the skull base with signs like raccoon eyes or CSF leakage rather than a visible contour deformity, and comminuted fractures break the bone into several pieces with irregular, deformed edges. So, the common presentation without deformity is a linear, nondisplaced fracture.