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Fractures of Temporal Bone

Fractures of Temporal Bone. Temporal bone is very thick and hard structure located in the base of the skull. Skull base has multiple foramina, increasing susceptiblity to traumatic injury. Temporal bone contains important structures like facial nerve, labyrinth, CN VIII, ossicles, carotid artery, jugular vein etc. Any or all structures can get involve in fractures of temporal bone.

Aetiology. 

  • Motor vehicle accident
  • Fall from height
  • Physical assaults
  • Gunshot wound
  • Any trauma causing head, maxillofacial and spine injuries.

Types of fractures. 

Its depends on the direction of fracture with respect to the long axis of petrous temporal bone

  • Longitudinal. Runs parallel to long axis of petrous temporal bone. Starts at squamous part of temporal bone to end at foramen lacerum. Typically, it starts at the squamous part of temporal bone, runs through the roof of the external ear canal and middle ear towards the petrous apex and to the foramen lacerum.
  • Transverse. Runs perpendicular to the petrous temporal bone. It runs across the axis of petrous. Starts at foramen magnum or jugular foramen towards the foramen spinosum. Typically, it begins at the foramen magnum and passes through occipital bone, jugular fossa and petrous pyramid, ending in the middle cranial fossa. It may pass medial, lateral or through the labyrinth.
  • Mixed (oblique). Having one or more features of both above fractures.
Longitudinal fracture. Dr. Rahul Bagla ENT Textbook

Further complications that should be considered are CSF leak, meningitis, meningocoele from tegmen involvement, and vascular injury to the carotid canal or jugular fossa. Delayed complications can include labyrinthine ossificans and post-traumatic cholesteatoma.

Transverse fracture. Dr. Rahul Bagla ENT Textbook

Cause of facial nerve paralysis in temporal bone fracture:

  • Oedema.
  • Stretching 
  • Intraneural hemorrhage.
  • Compression by a bony spicule.
  • Dehiscence of nerve.
  • Transection of nerve. 

Investigations.

High resolution CT Temporal bone. To know about:

  • Type and direction of fracture
  • Involvement of otic capsule 
  • Any associated complications. 

Treatment of facial nerve paralysis. It depends upon time of onset of facial palsy following injury.

  • Delayed onset paralysis. Treatment is same as Bell palsy and palsy almost always recovers.
  • Immediate onset paralysis. Require urgent exploration.
  • Facial nerve decompression
  • Re-Anastomosis Of Cut Ends
  • Cable Nerve Graft.
 LongitudinalTransverse
IncidenceSeen in  80% casesSeen in 20% cases, but more common in children
Type of injuryParietal blow, lateral blow over mastoid regionOccipital or frontal blow
Fracture lineRuns parallel to long axis of petrous temporal bone.Starts at squamous part of temporal bone toend at foramen lacerumRuns perpendicular to the petrous temporal bone. Starts from foramen magum or jugular foramen towards the foramen spinosum
Injury to external and middle earpresentAbsent
Bleeding from earCommon, due to injury to tegmen andtympanic membraneAbsent because tympanic membrane is intact.
HaemotympanumAbsentHaemotympanum may be seen
Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoeaPresent, often mixed with blood and usually it is temporary.Absent or unmanifested
Structures injuredTympanic membrane , ossicles and tegmenLabyrinth or CN VIII
Type of Hearing lossConductive, SNHL can also occur due to concussion but is not common.Sensorineural
VertigoLess often; due to concussionSevere, due to injury to labyrinth or CN VIII
Incidence of Facial paralysisSeen in 20% cases, delayed onset. Seen in 50% cases. Immediate onset. 
Site of injuryNerve is injured in tympanic segment, distal to geniculate ganglionInjury to nerve in meatal or labyrinthine segment proximal to geniculate ganglion.
Skull base foramenOvaleSpinosum, lacerum
Differences between Longitudinal and Transverse Fractures

———— End of the chapter ————

Learning resources.

  • Scott-Brown, Textbook of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.
  • Glasscock-Shambaugh, Textbook of  Surgery of the Ear.
  • Logan Turner, Textbook of Diseases of The Nose, Throat and Ear Head And Neck Surgery.
  • Rob and smith, Textbook of Operative surgery.
  • P L Dhingra, Textbook of Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat.
  • Hazarika P, Textbook of Ear Nose Throat And Head Neck Surgery Clinical Practical.
  • Mohan Bansal, Textbook of Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat Head and Neck surgery.
  • Anirban Biswas, Textbook of Clinical Audio-vestibulometry.
  • W. Arnold, U. Ganzer, Textbook of  Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
  • Salah Mansour, Textbook of Comprehensive and Clinical Anatomy of the Middle Ear.
  • Susan Standring, Gray’s Anatomy.
  • Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology.

Author:

Dr. Rahul Bagla ENT Textbook

Dr. Rahul Kumar Bagla
MS & Fellow Rhinoplasty & Facial Plastic Surgery.
Associate Professor & Head
GIMS, Greater Noida, India
msrahulbagla@gmail.com

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