When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

Fraturas cranianas

Última revisão das evidências: 23 Aug 2026
Última atualização do tópico: 15 Oct 2025

Resumo

Definição

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presença de fatores de risco
  • fratura aberta
  • discrepância palpável no contorno do osso
  • sinal de Battle
  • equimose periorbital
  • otorreia sanguinolenta
  • rinorreia liquórica
  • paralisia facial, nistagmo ou parestesia
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • evidências de trauma
  • dor craniana ou cefaleia
  • náuseas
  • estado mental alterado/perda de consciência
  • reflexos pupilares anormais
  • perda auditiva
Full details

Risk factors

  • queda de altura
  • acidente com veículo automotor
  • agressão resultando em trauma cranioencefálico
  • ferimentos por arma de fogo na cabeça
  • sexo masculino
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • TC craniana
Full details

Tests to consider

  • ensaio da beta-2-transferrina
  • ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) cranioencefálica
  • angiografia por ressonância magnética (RM)
  • ultrassonografia craniana
  • radiografia simples do crânio
  • TC de coluna cervical
  • radiografia do esqueleto
  • angiotomografia
  • Angiotomografia venosa
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

fratura sem afundamento fechada

fratura com afundamento fechada

fratura aberta

ONGOING

lesão persistente de nervo craniano ou vazamento do liquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR)

Contributors

Authors

Demetrios Demetriades, MD, PhD, FACS
Demetrios Demetriades

Professor of Surgery

Director

Division of Trauma and Surgical Intensive Care

LAC+USC Trauma Center

Keck School of Medicine at USC

University of Southern California

Los Angeles

CA

Disclosures

DD declares that he has no competing interests.

Leslie Kobayashi, MD, FACS
Leslie Kobayashi

Professor of Surgery

Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Burns

University of California San Diego

San Diego

CA

Disclosures

LK declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Prof Sherard Austin Tatum, MD

Professor Otolaryngology and Pediatrics

SUNY Upstate Medical University

Syracuse

New York

Disclosures

SAT declares that he has no competing interests.

Tunji Lasoye, FRCS, FCEM, MA, Med Ed

Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine

Clinical Lead

Emergency Department

Director of Medical Education

King's College Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

TL declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Expert Panel on Neurological Imaging: Shih RY, Burns J, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® head trauma: 2021 update. J Am Coll Radiol. 2021 May;18(5S):S13-36.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer