GUNSHOT WOUNDS OF THE TEMPORAL BONE - A RATIONAL APPROACH TO EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT

Gunshot injuries of the temporal bone are uncommon but are being seen more frequently with the increasing incidence of violent crimes and us e of firearms. A retrospective analysis of 43 consecutive patients tre ated at our institution with this injury was undertaken to determine t he clinical symptoms, associated injuries, and treatment outcome. This is the largest series from a single institution treated by a single g roup during a brief period of time. Most of these patients had injury to various structures within and around the temporal bone, including h earing loss (29), intracranial injury (23), facial nerve injury (22), vascular injury (14), and mandible fracture (6). Ocular trauma and par alysis of cranial nerves V and IX, X, XI, and XII were rare occurrence s. A rational approach to the evaluation and management of these injur ies will be discussed in detail to optimize outcome.