Basilar Skull and Temporal Bone FracturesA 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.
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.