The Association Between Temporal Bone Pneumatization Extent and Otic Capsule Violating Fractures

Sunday, September 29, 2024

10:24 AM – 10:30 AM EDT

Location: MBCC, 231

Disclosure(s):

Udi Shapira, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Does temporal bone pneumatization pattern act as a shock absorber, which can deviate the impact away from the otic capsule?

Methods: A retrospective analysis of temporal bone fracture affected individuals, who were diagnosed and managed in a single tertiary referral center (2017-2023) was conducted. Pneumatization extent was objectively calculated by mastoid air cells system voxel density, using a Philips Intellispace portal 3D volume analysis. Degree of ossification or pneumatization was assessed using voxel counting of bone density over a cubic centimeter, randomly oriented in the contra-lateral (non-injured) mastoid process. This parameter was correlated to the otic capsule violation.

Results:

Results: 102 (M:F = 79:23) patients were included in the analysis. Etiologies of temporal bone trauma were fall (32), motor vehicle accident (60) and assault (10). Otic capsule violation was found in 9 patients, and this was correlated with less pneumatized temporal bone (p = 0.037).

Conclusions:

Conclusions: The mastoid air cells system has a role in protecting the otic capsule from violation by kinetic trauma. Less pneumatized temporal bones are more prone to otic capsule violation injuries once exposed to high enough kinetic energy. In pneumatized temporal bones, the fracture line deviates from the cortex, away from the otic capsule, through the air cells system back to the opposite cortex.

Presenting Author(s)

US

Udi Shapira, MD

resident
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Ichilov
TEL AVIV, Tel Aviv, Israel

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

LK

Linor Klein, MD

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
AB

Adi Brenner, MD

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
OH

Ophir Handzel, MD

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
YO

Yahav Oron, MD

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
RA

Rani Abu Eta, MD

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

OU

Omer Ungar, MD

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.