Abstract
The diagnosis and monitoring of patients presenting to an emergency department with
blunt temporal bone fracture and complications requiring acute management were reviewed
for a four-month period. Of 104 trauma patients with closed head injury, 15 patients
were diagnosed with temporal bone fracture, 12 of whom survived their injuries. Four
patients developed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea and two patients developed facial
nerve paralysis; all patients had resolution of complications with conservative management.
Significant shortcomings in the initial evaluation and monitoring of patients with
temporal bone fracture were identified. Specific and thorough facial nerve examinations
were not initially conducted on temporal bone fracture patients and subsequent inpatient
monitoring for facial nerve paralysis and CSF otorrhea was incomplete. The outcome
of temporal bone fracture is discussed. This article reminds the emergency physician
of the importance of initial diagnosis and documentation of temporal bone fractures.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
July 9,
1994
Received:
January 31,
1994
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
