ABSTRACT
Blunt trauma to the ear causes bleeding between the perichondrium and auricular cartilage, known as a subperichondrial haematoma. This can lead to a ‘cauliflower ear’ deformity from proliferative fibrosis if left untreated. Most basal skull fractures involve the temporal bone. Fractures may be divided into tympanic bone fractures, longitudinal fractures and transverse fractures. The temporal bone forms the glenoid fossa of the temporomandibular joint, and is damaged if the mandibular condyle is driven upwards into the middle ear or external auditory canal, causing bleeding or laceration of the canal. The bleeding occurs posterior to Little's area in adults and may be associated with a bleeding diathesis, including anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. Bleeding originates higher in the posterior part of the nose in the elderly from arteriosclerotic vessels, and rapidly leads to haemorrhagic shock if profuse.
