Fractures of the pterion

Question 1

what is the pterion?

Answer 1

Where the temporal, parietal, frontal and sphenoid bones meet, the skull is at its weakest, and susceptible to fracture

Question 2

what supplies the skull and dura mater?

Answer 2

The middle meningeal artery (MMA) supplies the skull and the dura mater

Question 3

what is the dura mater?

Answer 3

the outer membranous layer covering the brain

Question 4

where does the (anterior) middle meningeal artery tracel?

Answer 4

underneath the pterion, thus a fracture of the skull at the pterion can injure or completely lacerate the MMA

Question 5

what happens when there is complete laceration of MMA / injury to it? known as?

Answer 5

Blood will then collect in between the dura mater and the skull, causing a dangerous increase in intra-cranial pressure. This is known as an extradural haematoma.

Question 6

what symptoms does the extradural haematoma produce?

Answer 6

The increase in intra-cranial pressure causes a variety of symptoms:
nausea, vomiting, seizures, bradycardia and limb weakness

Question 7

how do you treat extradural haematoma? (increase in ICP)

Answer 7

diuretics in minor cases, and drilling burr holes into the skull in the more extreme hemorrhages