Condition Lookup

Start typing to search for a specific condition, or select a specialty to see all of its conditions

Sub-Category:

Temporal Bone Fractures

Specialty: Ear

Category: Trauma and Injury to the Ear

Sub-category: Fractures Involving the Ear

Symptoms:
hearing loss; ear bleeding; dizziness; facial weakness; cerebrospinal fluid (csf) leakage from the ear or nose; tinnitus

Root Cause:
Fracture of the temporal bone due to blunt head trauma, affecting the middle and/or inner ear structures.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
CT imaging of the temporal bone, otoscopy to assess eardrum damage, audiometry, and facial nerve testing.

Treatment:
Observation for minor fractures, surgical intervention for displaced fractures or CSF leaks, and facial nerve decompression if necessary.

Medications:
Pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen , NSAIDs), antibiotics (if there is a risk of infection or meningitis), and corticosteroids for nerve inflammation.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, associated with severe head trauma, commonly in motor vehicle accidents or falls.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-energy trauma, lack of protective equipment during high-risk activities, and osteoporosis (increasing bone fragility).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on severity; minor fractures heal without intervention, but severe cases may result in permanent hearing loss or facial nerve dysfunction.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic hearing loss, vertigo, persistent tinnitus, facial paralysis, and meningitis due to CSF leakage.