Friday, September 14, 2012

The Battle Sign




The answer to yesterdays NEJM diagnostic challenge was #2 - Fracture of the temporal bone.  This patient has ecchymosis (bruising) behind the left ear.  This is the classic "battle sign" that is seen with underlying trauma to the temporal bone of the skull. 

My patient had struck her head very hard on a metal cabinet...hard enough to sustain a concussion and a small skull fracture with blood

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