Battle’s sign is a crescent-shaped bruise that appears behind one or both ears. It was named after an English surgeon, Dr. William Henry Battle , and can be an indication of a serious head injury. The skull is made up of more than 20 different bones.
What is raccoon eyes a sign of?
Raccoon eyes is a condition that refers to bruises around both eyes. These bruises look like the dark patches around the eyes that are characteristic of raccoons. Raccoon eyes signal a serious condition related to a skull or brain injury . Prompt diagnosis is crucial to reduce the risk of complications.
What is a battle sign and what does it indicate?
Battle sign is bruising over the mastoid process
What causes a basilar skull fracture?
Basilar skull fractures, usually caused by substantial blunt force trauma , involve at least one of the bones that compose the base of the skull. Basilar skull fractures most commonly involve the temporal bones but may also involve the occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid, and orbital plate of the frontal bone.
Is it bad to get hit behind the ear?
Minor injuries usually cause temporary problems. But serious injuries may cause permanent hearing loss or balance problems. Kids who have trauma to the outside of the ear with swelling and bruising need to see a doctor right away.
Is Battle sign painful?
bleeding from the wound caused by the trauma, near the location of the trauma, or around the eyes, ears, and nose. bruising around the trauma site, under the eyes in a condition known as raccoon eyes, or behind the ears as in a Battle’s sign. severe pain at the trauma site.
What is a Battle’s sign?
Introduction. Battle Sign (also called Battle’s Sign) is defined as bruising over the mastoid process . It is retroauricular or mastoid ecchymosis that is typically the result of head trauma.[1] Battle sign derives its name from Dr. William Henry Battle who initially described the sign in the late 1800s.
What are black eyes a sign of?
Most black eyes are the result of blunt trauma that causes bleeding beneath the thin eyelid skin , producing the characteristic black and blue discoloration. A fracture deep inside the skull can also blacken both eyes in what they call “raccoon eyes,” even though the eye area itself was not injured.
Why do the corners of my eyes look bruised?
Allergic shiners, also called allergic facies or periorbital venous congestion, are a symptom of allergies. They appear as dark circles under the eyes and resemble bruises or “black eyes.” Allergic shiners are caused by the pooling of blood under the eyes, due to the swelling of the tissue in the nasal cavities .
What disease causes raccoon eyes?
Basal skull fracture
Basal skull fractures (BSF) are the most common cause of raccoon eyes.
How long does a basilar skull fracture take to heal?
Treating skull fractures
Most skull fractures will heal by themselves, particularly if they’re simple linear fractures. The healing process can take many months , although any pain will usually disappear in around 5 to 10 days.
How is a basilar skull fracture diagnosed?
Diagnosis is typically by CT scan . Treatment is generally based on the extent and location of the injury to structures inside the head. Surgery may be performed to seal a CSF leak that does not stop, to relieve pressure on a cranial nerve or repair injury to a blood vessel.
What are the long term effects of a skull fracture?
Some people go on to develop a mental health condition after a severe head injury, such as: depression . generalised anxiety disorder . post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can occur even if you have no memory of the injury occurring.
Can you touch your eardrum with your finger?
This includes fingers, cotton swabs, safety pins and pencils. Any of these can easily rupture the eardrum.
How do you know if your ears are damaged?
- your hearing is worse when sound comes from 1 side.
- all sounds seem generally quieter than usual.
- finding it hard to tell where sound is coming from.
- difficulty ignoring background noise or telling different sounds apart.
- finding speech unclear.
What are the symptoms of nerve damage in the ear?
- Hearing loss, usually gradually worsening over months to years — although in rare cases sudden — and occurring on only one side or more severe on one side.
- Ringing (tinnitus) in the affected ear.
- Unsteadiness or loss of balance.
- Dizziness (vertigo)
- Facial numbness and weakness or loss of muscle movement.
