Temporal bone fracture: Evaluation in the era of modern computed tomography.

Background: Temporal bone fractures (TBFs) are harbingers of high energy head trauma that can result in a variety of significant complications of the auditory, vestibular, nervous, and vascular systems. Multiple cohort studies have identified the incidence and proper evaluation of these fractures. We hypothesize that these have changed with the advent of modern high resolution computer tomography (CT) imaging.

Cervical spine immobilization may be of value following firearm injury to the head and neck.

Background: Penetrating injuries to the head and neck may not be able to cause unstable fractures without concomitant spinal cord injury, rendering prehospital spinal immobilization (PHSI) ineffectual, and possibly harmful. However, this premise is based on reports including predominantly chest and abdominal injuries, which are unlikely to cause cervical spine (CS) injuries.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients presenting with a penetrating wound to the head or neck over a 4-year period at an urban, level 1 trauma center to determine if there was a benefit of PHSI.

A 44-year-old woman with metabolic acidosis, high anion gap, and delayed neurologic deterioration.

A 44-year-old woman was brought to the ED from John F. Kennedy International Airport. The patient was returning with her son from a 3-month visit to Bangladesh.