BCEN CEN Practice Question
The presence of Battle's sign (bruising behind the ear) in a head trauma patient always indicates a basilar skull fracture.
False
True
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Answer Description
This statement is false. While Battle's sign (postauricular ecchymosis) can be a sign of basilar skull fracture, it is not always indicative of this condition. Battle's sign may take 24-48 hours to develop after the initial injury, and it can also be caused by other types of trauma to the head or neck region. Additionally, a basilar skull fracture can occur without the presence of Battle's sign.
It's important for emergency nurses to understand that no single clinical sign is definitive for diagnosing a basilar skull fracture. Other signs and symptoms that may suggest a basilar skull fracture include:
- Raccoon eyes (periorbital ecchymosis)
- CSF otorrhea or rhinorrhea
- Hemotympanum
- Cranial nerve deficits
A comprehensive neurological assessment, along with appropriate imaging studies such as CT scans, is necessary to accurately diagnose basilar skull fractures. Emergency nurses should be vigilant in monitoring for these signs and other neurological changes in head trauma patients, regardless of the presence or absence of Battle's sign.
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