J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2006 Feb;17(1):89-91.

Temporal Bone Fracture and Labyrinthine Concussion as Ataxic Gait in 21-Months-Old Child

• Kim SW
• Nah JH
• Cho YS
• Choi YH
• Lee HS

Abstract

Blunt head injury can concuss the membranous labyrinth against the otic capsule. This results in acute hypofunction of some portion of the vestibular neural substrate within the affected labyrinth. Both labyrinthine concussions and transverse temporal bone fractures produce acute unilateral vestibular hypofunction. We describe a 21-months-old child who presented with a ataxic gait for two days. It is difficult to make diagnosis of labyrinthine concussions and temporal bone fractures in children, for we can not know the exact history of trauma and can not perform complete neurologic examination in children. When child present with ataxic gait, the emergency physician should consider labyrinthine concussion and temporal bone fracture in the differential diagnosis and take temporal bone CT.

Keyword

Labyrinth; Post-concussion syndrome; Ataxia

MeSH Terms

Ataxia
Child*
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Ear, Inner
Emergencies
Gait*
Head Injuries, Closed
Humans
Neurologic Examination
Post-Concussion Syndrome
Temporal Bone*