Fractured skull. Coloured side-view 3D computed tomography (CT) scan of the fractured skull of a 40-year-old man. The injury is due to an assault. There are multiple fractures. On the top of the skull (upper centre) and over the right temple (lower centre) there are depressed fractures, part of the skull has been pushed inwards and fragmented into small pieces. A linear fracture runs between the two. Depressed fractures are the result of a high-energy impact from a blunt object. In severe cases the fragments of bone may need to be surgically elevated to their correct positions. Direct brain damage and even death can result from such injuries.