[Temporal bone fracture: review of 40 cases (44 traumatic injuries)]

Temporal bone fractures are common injuries in patients suffering cranio-encephalic traumatisms. They call for a precociuos diagnosis, including a careful oto-neurologic examination as well a computerized tomography (CT), in order to asses sequelae and complications arrised from traumata. Here are reported a review of 40 patients with 44 temporal fractures attended in our Hospital, from January 1993 until March 1996. The injured were clinically evaluated in the ENT-Department by computer radiography and the classic audiovestibular battery tests. Particularly emphasized were luxations of the ossicular chain, lesion of the labyrinthine capsula and peripheral facial palsies. Our basic concern is to evaluate the incidence of petrosal involvement in our environment, owing to the scarcity of the national literature, and to analyze the after maths and the management of postraumatic facial paralyses.