Basilar Skull and Temporal Bone Fractures
A basilar skull fracture is a fracture through the bone at the base of the brain. A temporal bone fracture is a fracture of the part of the skull that houses the middle ear, inner ear, and facial nerve.
Etiology for Basilar Skull and Temporal Bone Fractures
A basilar skull fracture occurs with severe trauma to the head, as with a blow to the head or a motor vehicle accident. If there is a blow to the side of the head, it can cause a fracture of the skull that extends to the inner ear and often to the geniculate ganglion (longitudinal temporal bone fracture).
A blow to the side of the head or ear causes a fracture through the middle ear that extends to the inner ear.
A blow to the side of the head or ear causes a fracture through the middle ear that extends to the inner ear.
If there is a blow to the front or the back of the head, it can cause a fracture that extends through the petrous pyramid (transverse temporal bone fracture).
A blow to the front of the head causes a fracture through the inner ear.
A blow to the front of the head causes a fracture through the inner ear.
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About Dr. Prasad
Dr. Sanjay Prasad MD FACS is a board certified physician and surgeon with over thirty-two years of sub-specialty experience in Otology, Neurotology, advanced head and neck oncologic surgery, and cranial base surgery. He is chief surgeon and founder of the private practice, Metropolitan NeuroEar Group, located in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area.