What term is used to describe depressed skull fractures?

The term "signature fractures" refers specifically to depressed skull fractures that have a distinctive pattern, often associated with certain types of cranial trauma. These fractures occur when an object strikes the skull with enough force to indent the bone, creating a depression that can sometimes represent the shape of the object that caused the injury. Signature fractures are significant because they can indicate the nature of the impact and provide insights into the circumstances surrounding the trauma.

The other terms do not accurately describe depressed skull fractures. Linear fractures typically describe fractures that are cracks in the skull without displacement. Comminuted fractures refer to fractures that are broken into several pieces rather than being simply depressed. Basilar fractures occur at the base of the skull and often involve different mechanisms and implications than depressed fractures. Understanding these distinctions is critical for diagnosis and management in traumatic head injuries.