Trauma of the ossicular chain is a frequent complication of temporal b
one injury. Skull trauma from blows to the temporal, parietal, or occi
pital region (with or without fracture of the temporal bone) is the ma
in cause of ossicular injury; other modes of injury are rare. Ossicula
r injury usually occurs as a dislocation, of which there are five type
s: incudostapedial joint separation, incudomalleolar joint separation,
dislocation of the incus, dislocation of the malleoincudal complex, a
nd stapediovestibular dislocation. Fracture of the malleus, incus, or
stapes is uncommon, High-resolution computed tomography is the method
of choice for evaluation of ossicular trauma. Joint separation and fra
cture of the stapes are seen on axial images; coronal images may aid v
isualization. Both axial and coronal images are needed for evaluation
of a dislocated malleus or incus. Fracture of the malleus or incus is
detected with axial or coronal images; reformatted images may also be
useful.