What type of hematoma typically occurs due to skull fractures?

Epidural hematomas are typically associated with skull fractures, particularly those involving the temporal region of the skull where the middle meningeal artery runs. When a skull fracture occurs in this area, it can cause tearing of the middle meningeal artery, leading to the accumulation of blood between the skull and the dura mater, which forms the epidural hematoma. This type of hematoma often evolves rapidly and can lead to increased intracranial pressure and serious complications if not addressed promptly.

In contrast, subdural hematomas usually result from tearing of the bridging veins due to acceleration-deceleration forces or blunt trauma rather than direct skull fractures. Intracranial hemorrhage is a broader term that can include various types of bleeding within the cranial cavity, including both subdural and epidural hematomas, but does not specifically refer to the mechanism related to skull fractures. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, on the other hand, involves bleeding into the subarachnoid space, often due to the rupture of blood vessels, and while it can occur due to trauma, it is not specifically linked to the type of skull fracture that characterizes an epidural hematoma. Thus, the most accurate answer regarding the typology associated with skull