What signs indicate basilar skull fracture?

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Multiple Choice

What signs indicate basilar skull fracture?

Recognizing basilar skull fracture hinges on classic signs that point to trauma at the base of the skull. The most telling combination includes bruising around the eyes (raccoon eyes) and bruising behind the ear (Battle signs) along with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the nose or ears. The CSF drainage is the most specific indicator because it shows the dura has been breached at the skull base. When you see both the facial/retroauricular bruising and CSF leakage, this combination strongly suggests a basilar skull fracture. CSF drainage by itself can occur, but without the accompanying bruising signs it’s less definitive.

Recognizing basilar skull fracture hinges on classic signs that point to trauma at the base of the skull. The most telling combination includes bruising around the eyes (raccoon eyes) and bruising behind the ear (Battle signs) along with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the nose or ears. The CSF drainage is the most specific indicator because it shows the dura has been breached at the skull base. When you see both the facial/retroauricular bruising and CSF leakage, this combination strongly suggests a basilar skull fracture. CSF drainage by itself can occur, but without the accompanying bruising signs it’s less definitive.

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