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Have you ever noticed any skull indentation on your head or in any of your family’s? We do not mean to scare you, but most skull indentation causes may signify something serious and would need medical attention. Because come to think of it, why get a bone dent if there’s nothing wrong, right?
But let us not jump to further conclusions. Here, we have listed down the main skull indentation causes, how one gets them, and how doctors diagnose and treat them.
Are Skull Indentations Normal?
Don’t get us wrong; we understand and accept the fact that all of us have different head shapes and bone formations. The irregularity of one’s skull shape and formation may indicate an anatomical variation, and this is normal. Let’s just say that the shape and size of our heads differ like how our facial features do.
However, there are dents in the head that require medical attention. This, accompanied by other signs and symptoms may indicate a medical condition that requires immediate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
If you or a family member noticed anything different in your head shapes and sizes, be assertive and consult your doctor as soon as possible. Only they can determine if the skull indentation cause is worth a doctor’s visit or may be considered as a natural condition.
Skull Indentation Causes
Congenital Skull Indentation
We understand how babies come out of their mother’s womb during childbirth. A newborn’s skull and bones are still soft during this time, so in the event that the mother gives birth via normal delivery, a newborn’s head may become misshapen to accommodate the width of the mother’s pelvis. The birth process dictates if the congenital skull upon birth is deformed or not.
Typically, there is nothing to worry about since this malformation gradually corrects itself, forming a normal circular skull. However, there are congenital skulls that are already fused together upon birth, caused by congenital anomalies like Apert or Pfeiffer syndrome. These genetic abnormalities tend to make the skull depressions look noticeable and may require further assessment.
Head Injuries or Trauma
Skull fractures, obviously, can cause head deformities. Head injuries, depending on the impact, may affect not just the bones but also the brain and the spine. A car accident, fall, or a severe blow to the head can cause what’s called skull depression or skull fracture.
A skull depression makes a part of your skull crush in toward your brain. A skull fracture breaks the bones either inwards or outwards, with the former pressing into the brain, and the latter opening up your head, making you susceptible to infection of the brain. Both kinds of injuries require emergency medical treatment.
Gorham’s Disease
Also called the vanishing bone disease, Gorham’s disease is a rare bone disease that up until today has no known cause. Only the symptoms of having bone loss and abnormal blood vessel growth make this rare condition concrete. Typically appearing in patients’ skulls, collarbones, pelvic bones, ribs, spines, or jaws, this condition may cause medical problems depending on its location.
Patients typically consist of young kids and teens, those older only discover that they develop Gorham’s disease before reaching the age of 40. Pain and swelling of the area quickly develop, followed by limited or restricted movements, and weakness.
Cancer
Some doctors use skull depressions or skull indentation as a characteristic sign of an undiagnosed cancer. Although this needs further studies and proof, bone-related cancers (leukemia or osteosarcoma) can cause bone deformities and irregularities.
Meanwhile, bone tumors, whether cancerous or benign, can cause skull indentations. If you notice any deformities in your skull with additional symptoms of dizziness and feeling a mass on your head with or without pain, head on to the nearest clinic for further assessment and examination.
Vitamin A Toxicity
While others have a deficiency in this essential vitamin, people who drink and use products and supplements rich in vitamin A can develop bone weakening and softening. This can cause skull depressions or indentation. Although its incidence rate is quite low, there is no harm in making sure that your vitamin and mineral supplements are just right.
Skull Indentation: Should I see a Doctor Immediately?
The simple answer to this is, yes! Whatever the reason may be for you or a loved one to have a dent in the head, the only way to make sure that everything is okay is to secure an immediate appointment with your doctor.
If your skull indentation resulted from head injuries or trauma, it is imperative that you go straight to an emergency department so the doctors can tend to your needs instantly. You require several tests and extensive assessments to determine what exactly are the damages you sustained. After a complete physical exam and medical history, you may also have additional tests, such as a bone scan, X-ray, and CT scan, to help them make a diagnosis and determine the cause.
Treatment for Skull Indentation
Because there is no determined cause of skull indentation except as a symptom of an existing health problem, there is no direct treatment for this condition. The only way to remedy your skull depressions or fractures is to identify the source.
For vitamin A toxicity, you do not need any other treatment except to limit or stop your intake of vitamin A supplements.
Traumatic head injuries need surgery. Skull fractures require the removal of bone fragments and the surgical fusion of bones to correct the deformity and allow natural healing and cell regeneration of the bones.
Cancer-related skull indentation needs oncologic treatment and attention. Chemotherapy and radiation may be required.
Skull shape varies naturally from person to person. However, a dent in the head may sometimes develop. This dent can have a variety of causes, including trauma, birth injuries, and some types of bone tumor. If a person is concerned about a dent in their head, they should see a doctor. It is especially important to seek medical attention if additional symptoms are present, such as nausea, confusion, or dizziness.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/dent-in-head
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327042
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-chat/thread/dent-in-skull-so-worried
https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140673607617814.pdf
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6542/gorhams-disease
