Fracture Of Temporal Bone, Early Or Retrospective Diagnosis, And Surgical Hearing Reconstruction

Abstract

Among the victims of acute skull trauma, temporal bone fracture is found in 6–8 %. An early diagnosis emerges from clinical inspection, X-ray exposure and is strongly supported by otoscopy. The otologist is concerned about the facial nerve immediately after the fracture and to detect signs of defects which call for decompression. The destiny of hearing is due either to cochlear damage or alterations in the ossicular mechanism. Conductive hearing loss possibly resulting from previous skull trauma may benefit from surgical intervention in the tympanic cavity.