The role of angiography in managing patients with temporal bone fractures: A retrospective study of 64 cases

by K. Asif Ahmed, MD, David Alison, MD, Wesley S. Whatley, MD, and Rakesh K. Chandra, MD | Friday, May 01, 2009

Introduction Temporal bone fractures have been noted to occur in as many as 22% of patients who sustain head trauma.1 The most common causes of these fractures are motor vehicle accidents, which account for as many as one-third of cases.2 Included among the other common causes are assaults, falls, and motorcycle accidents. The initial diagnosis of these fractures can be made on physical examination and confirmed by computed tomography (CT). When otolaryngologists are consulted to participate in the care of these patients, we are primarily concerned with the assessment of facial nerve function and hearing status and the detection of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. However, the severity of the head injury in these patients often leads to delays in otolaryngologic evaluation and management. Vascular injuries of the cranium in patients with temporal bone fractures are rare, but when they do occur, they often have serious implications and they may ultimately play a large role in the .../continued/

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