Hurt T L, Fisher B, Peterson B M, Lynch F
Department of Critical Care and Trauma, Children's Hospital of San Diego, CA.
Pediatr Emerg Care. 1988 Jun;4(2):121-3. doi: 10.1097/00006565-198806000-00009.
The combination of chin trauma and bleeding from the ear should alert the physician to the possibility of a mandibular fracture. Not all hemotympanums represent basilar skull fractures, especially when they occur in association with chin trauma. Diagnosis of mandibular condylar fractures or temporomandibular joint disruptions can be very difficult. A high index of suspicion and a proper choice of imaging modalities are necessary to ensure a timely diagnosis.
