A pedestrian struck by a vehicle sustains a fracture of the skull. On examination, a circular segment of the parietal bone is depressed inward as a single intact piece, with the inner table more involved than the outer table. This fracture is BEST described as a:

• A Diastatic fracture
• B Gutter fracture
• C Ring fracture
• D Pond (indented) fracture ✓

Explanation

Pond or indented fracture occurs when a blunt force depresses a localized area of bone inward as a single piece, typically seen in infants and parietal bone. Diastatic fracture is a split along a suture line. Ring fracture encircles the foramen magnum from vertical forces. Gutter fracture is a furrow in the skull floor from a glancing projectile. The circular inward depression as one piece defines pond fracture.

Reference: Practical Forensic Medicine, 3rd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.