TEMPORAL FRACTURE

Course overview

THE TEMPORAL BONE IS THE THICKEST BONE IN THE BODY, REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT FORCE TO FRACTURE. SUCH HIGH-VELOCITY HEAD INJURIES CARRY THE RISK OF SIGNIFICANT MORBIDITY OR MORTALITY DUE TO INJURY OF THE CRANIAL NERVES OR IMPORTANT VASCULAR STRUCTURES TRAVERSING THE TEMPORAL BONE BUT ALSO ASSOCIATED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY OR POLY-TRAUMA. THIS ACTIVITY WILL REVIEW THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF TEMPORAL BONE FRACTURES AND OUTLINE THE APPROACH TO TREATMENT.