Pediatric temporal bone fractures in a rural population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine pediatric temporal bone fractures in a rural population.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of pediatric temporal bone fractures between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2000, at a rural academic medical center.


RESULTS
A total of 108 patients were identified. Common etiologies include falls, bicycle-related injuries, and motor vehicle accidents. Animal-related injuries were identified primarily in patients under 5. Facial nerve injuries were noted in 7%, hearing loss in 16%, additional skull base fractures in 65%, and intracranial injuries in 75%.


CONCLUSIONS
Temporal bone fracture etiology in the rural pediatric population is associated with age. Young children may suffer fractures secondary to animal-related accidents. Patterns of injury differ little between rural and urban settings.


CONCLUSIONS
Animal-related accidents may be a significant cause of temporal bone trauma in rural young children. Our data remain unique in that we report additional skull base fractures as well as intracranial injuries in this population.
Division of Otolarygology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Stuart
S
Ort
Kirt
K
Beus
Jon
J
Isaacson
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000293:injuries*