Battle Sign Basal Skull Fracture

Direct trauma to this area could of course cause this too but you might expect skin evidence such as a laceration or clear history that this was the case.

Battle sign basal skull fracture. A basilar skull fracture is a fracture occurring in the bones that constitute the base bottom part of the skull. Bruising around the eyes. Battle s sign also known as mastoid ecchymosis is an indication of fracture of middle cranial fossa of the skull. Basal skull fracture should be considered in all patients with head injuries especially those with physical signs such as otorrhea battle sign or periorbital ecchymoses.

A person with a basilar skull fracture may also have other symptoms in addition to battle s sign including. A battle sign or battle s sign is a bruise that indicates a fracture at the bottom of the skull. Battle s sign consists of bruising over the mastoid process as a result of extravasation of blood along the path of the posterior auricular. The temporal region of skull is the most common location.

These fractures may be associated with underlying brain trauma. It is usually a result from strong blunt force applied to the head such as falling from the high. Battle sign base of skull fracture dr daniel j bell and assoc prof frank gaillard et al. At first it can look just like a typical bruise that could heal on its own.

There may have been bloody drainage from the ear immediately after the fracture occurred. The type of fracture that causes battle s sign is considered a medical emergency. What are the signs of basal skull fracture. A basilar skull fracture is a break of a bone in the base of the skull.

Symptoms may include bruising behind the ears bruising around the eyes or blood behind the ear drum. Battle sign is an eponymous term given to mastoid ecchymosis bruising of the scalp overlying the mastoid process and is strongly suggestive of a base of skull fracture most commonly a petrous temporal bone fracture. Anterior fossa fracture anosmia epistaxis rhinorrhea subconjunctival hemorrhage periorbital hemorrage raccoon eyes visual disturbances altered eye movement ptosis loss of sensation to forehead cornea and nare. This is bruising seen behind the ear over a part of the skull called the mastoid process where the big sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck inserts.

A cerebrospinal fluid csf leak occurs in about 20 of cases and can result in fluid leaking from the nose or ear. Battle s sign is seen several days following a basilar skull fracture. Blood or fluid leaking from ears or nose.