Unusual complications of temporal bone fractures.
Eighty-two temporal bone fractures were diagnosed in 75 patients with high-resolution computed tomographic scanning. Excluding six gunshot injuries, 55 (72%) of the fractures were oblique, 11 (15%) were longitudinal, and ten (13%) were transverse. Facial paresis or paralysis occurred in 45 patients (60%), hemotympanum occurred in 67 (89%), and cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea occurred in 19 (25%). Among 66 patients in whom audiometry was performed, 20 (30%) had conductive hearing loss, nine (14%) had sensorineural loss, and 36 (55%) had mixed hearing loss. Vestibular symptoms were present in 23 patients (30%). Other unusual complications of temporal bone fractures were observed: bilateral abducens paralysis, three patients (4%); unilateral abducens paralysis, two (2.67%); trigeminal paralysis, one (1.33%); and aseptic sigmoid sinus thrombosis, one (1.33%).
D020222:Abducens Nerve Injury; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications