Which skull fracture may be noticeable upon palpation due to bone being displaced into brain tissue?

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

Answer: (D)

Depressed skull fracture is defined by inward indentation of the skull bone toward brain tissue, creating a palpable deformity on the scalp. That inward displacement means a bone fragment can press into brain tissue, which is why you can notice it when you feel the skull. This contrasts with a linear fracture, which is just a crack with no inward deformity; a basal skull fracture involves the base of the skull and presents with signs like CSF leakage or facial/ear findings rather than a depression felt on palpation; and a comminuted fracture involves multiple fragments, which may or may not be depressed inward, but the hallmark in this context is the inward inward displacement pressing toward brain tissue. So the palpable deformity due to bone being driven into brain tissue points to a depressed skull fracture.