When the skull is deformed by an impact, it generally causes injury to the brain

Another factor that doctors need to consider when it comes to head injury is the location of the impact on the head. Where an impact deforms the skull, or the level of the acceleration of the head, can be very important in determining the nature of a head injury.

When the skull is deformed by an impact, it generally causes injury to the brain through direct contact. This is a common occurrence when it comes to an object displacing part of the skull so it hits the brain tissue. Studies, however, have discovered there are some impacts that can indent the skull for just a few milliseconds, but the skull will return to its original shape, without any evidence in the bone.

Experiments using anesthetized monkeys showed doctors that occipital impacts did not deform the skull, nor did it create any lesions on the brain. Impacts in the temporoparietal region of the brain did show evidence of skull deformation, however, along with the accompanying lesions on the brain. This is further proof that the location of impact is very important, and can mean the difference between a major and a minor injury. Studies in New York City and Westchester have shown that impacts that produce a skull fracture in one region of the skull may have to be at least twice as forceful to cause a fracture in another part of the skull.

All evidence such as this is important not only to doctors, but to Lawyers, in order to determine what course of action is best for any given patient.