Temporal Bone Fractures

Temporal bone fractures occur in up to 20 % of patients presenting with significant closed head injuries and can be associated with complications including hearing loss, facial paralysis, and CSF fistula. Traditionally, fractures of the temporal bone have been classified as longitudinal or transverse depending on their orientation relative to the long axis of the petrous bone, but in reality, most temporal bone fractures are oblique or have overlapping features. The role of imaging in temporal bone trauma is not only to identify the fracture but also to assess for involvement of important structures such as the otic capsule, ossicular chain, facial nerve, and carotid artery.