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Clinical Features of Fracture versus Concussion of the Temporal Bone after Head Trauma

  • Kong, Tae Hoon (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Jae Woo (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Yoon Ah (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Seo, Young Joon (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2018.07.02
  • Accepted : 2018.09.04
  • Published : 2019.04.20

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Temporal bone fracture (TBF) is a common occurrence in cases of head trauma. Although the incidence of temporal bone concussion (TBC) has increased in cases of head trauma, it has not been extensively studied. We assessed the characteristics of TBF and TBC in patients with head trauma. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 432 patients with head injury who visited our hospital between January 2011 and April 2016. Of these patients, 211 who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Their clinical characteristics, causes of injury, and hearing function were analyzed. Results: Among the 211 patients, 157 had TBFs and 54 had TBCs. Ear symptoms were more common among patients with TBF than among those with TBC. Car accidents were the most common cause of both TBF and TBC, but assault and sports injuries were more common among patients with TBC than among those with TBF. The occurrence of facial palsy in both cases of TBF and TBC. Hearing loss was observed among 35 patients with TBF and 11 patients with TBC. However, patients with TBF showed conductive hearing loss with an air-bone gap. Hearing function of these patients with TBF recovered with a reduced air-bone gap, but the patients with TBC showed little recovery. Conclusions: Emergency physicians should focus more on temporal bone injury in patients with head trauma. Therefore, an early complete diagnostic battery, which includes high-resolution computed tomography, audiometric tests, neurologic examination, and vestibular tests, be performed in patients with head trauma.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Gangwon Institute for Regional Program Evaluation grant funded by the Korea government (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) (No. R0005797) and by the Technology Innovation Program (or Industrial Strategic Technology Development Program) (20001819) funded By the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE, Korea).