| Description |
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A head injury may result in a fracture of the petrous temporal bone. The intimate interrelationship of the anatomical components of the middle and inner ear in a small area makes injury to more than one structure a likely possibility.
A temporal bone fracture should always be considered when a head injury is associated with hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, facial nerve paralysis, bleeding, or fluid leaking from the ear. The fracture line may not be visible on radiographs and a CT scan may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Although fractures of the petrous temporal bone do not follow exact anatomical lines, they are generally classified with reference to the long axis of the petrous pyramid as either longitudinal or transverse fractures. |
