Question

A sign of basal skull fracture in the trauma patient would be the presence of:

A) Bruising behind the ears (Battle's sign)
B) Swelling and deformity of the nose
C) Inability to move the fingers and toes
D) Unequal pupils

Answer 1

Battle's sign, or bruising behind the ears, is a clinical indicator of a basal skull fracture, which can be life-threatening due to potential arterial damage and subsequent hematoma.

Step-by-step explanation:

A sign of basal skull fracture in a trauma patient would be the presence of bruising behind the ears, also known as Battle's sign. Basal skull fractures can be particularly dangerous because they may damage major arteries such as the one passing through the carotid canal, leading to bleeding inside the skull. This may result in a hematoma, which, if untreated, can put increasing pressure on the brain and potentially lead to death.