Longitudinal temporal bone fractures
Updates to Article Attributes
Longitudinal temporal bone fractures normally occur parallel to the long axis of the petrous bone. A more current classification of the extent of temporal bone fractures describes the integrity of the otic capsule rather than the fracture orientation (see temporal bone fractures.)
Epidemiology
Longitudinal fractures represent the majority (70-90%) of temporal bone fractures. Periauricular swelling and retroauricular ecchymosis (Battle sign) are common, and almost all have otorrhagia.
Pathology
Mechanism
Such a fracture typically originates from squama temporalis with the inferior propagation of the fracture line through the mastoid into the lateral wall of the middle ear, passing behind, through, or in front of the external auditory canal and ends in middle cranial fossa adjacent to the foramen spinosum and foramen lacerum.
Depending on the force of impact, the fracture line may extend, deviated by the strong petrous bone, through the anteromedial wall of the middle ear. Involvement of the otic capsule is rare, but the fracture line can involve the squamous part of the temporal bone and/or the parietal bone.
Complications
- tympanic membrane rupture
- ossicular injury including incudostapedal dislocation
- conductive hearing loss
- facial paralysis (~25%) 1
- pneumocephalus
- herniation of temporal lobe
See also
-<li>herniation of <a href="/articles/temporal-lobe">temporal lobe</a>- +<li>herniation of <a href="/articles/temporal-lobe">temporal lobe</a>
-</ul><h4>See also</h4><ul><li>-<a href="/articles/temporal-bone-fractures-1">temporal bone fractures</a><ul><li><a href="/articles/transverse-temporal-bone-fractures">transverse temporal bone fractures</a></li></ul>-</li></ul>- +</ul>
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