Acute intracranial complications of temporal bone trauma.

Temporal bone trauma can be disastrous for the individual and his or her family. With the increase in violent crime throughout our society, the number of intracranial complications associated with temporal bone injury has increased significantly. Although multiple reports concerning the diagnosis and management of temporal bone trauma have been published, few studies on its intracranial complications have been addressed. In this study, we assessed the cases of 43 patients treated for temporal bone fractures between January 1992 and December 1994. The number of temporal bone fractures increased from 6 in 1992 to 21 in 1994. Twenty-one patients (49%) presented with decreased mental status. Significant alcohol and drug use was documented in 28% and 58% of patients, respectively. The most common radiologic finding was skull and intracranial injury. Thirty-six patients (84%) had at least one abnormal intracranial finding; of these patients, 14 (39%) had more than one abnormal finding on computed tomography. Cerebral midline shift, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, and cerebral edema were the most common radiologic findings. Nineteen patients (44%) required an open neurosurgical procedure, and almost all patients with more than one abnormal radiologic finding underwent neurosurgery (86%). Seven patients required further institutional care after discharge. Four patients died (9% mortality); all the deaths were neurologically related. Mean hospital charges increased from $30,900 in 1992 to $63,000 in 1994.