Head Trauma

Question 1

What are the signs of longitudinal temporal bone fractures?

Answer 1

1) Swollen external auditory canal
2) Tear of the tympanic membrane
3) Bleeding from the ear
4) CSF otorrhoea
5) CN VII palsy

Question 2

What are the signs of transverse temporal bone fractures?

Answer 2

1) Haemotympamum
2) 50% have facial nerve palsy
3) Senorineural hearing loss
4) Vertigo
5) Nystagmus
6) CN IX, X, XII palsies

Question 3

How to manage temporal bone fractures?

Answer 3

Hearing test
EMG
Surgical decompression & grafting of CN VII