Abstract
The common serious consequences of trauma to the temporal bone are hearing loss, hemotympanum and facial nerveparalysis. To minimize of prevent these sequelae, accurate radiological evaluation is necessary as soon afterinjury as possible. High resolution CT of the temporal bone delineate the fine sturctures of the middle and innerear including ossicular chain. Excellent resolution of density differences among the soft tissue is the mainadvantage over convetional tomography. 21 cases of temporal bone fracture were examined at Keimyung Universityhospital for recent 18months. The results were as follows: 1. The sex distribution of cases were 18 males and 3females, and most common in the third decade(42.9%). 2. The most common cause was motor vehicle accident(71.4%).3. The most common type of fracture was longitudinal (81%). 4. Clinical symptoms and signs were hearing loss,hemotympanum and facial nerve paralysis in order of frequency. 5. 5 conductive hearing loss were noted in 12 hearing loss of 17 longitudinal fractures. 6. The ossicular changes were noted only in longitudinal fracture, suchas 3 incudostapedial separation, 2 incudomalleal separation and 1 incus dislocation.