What are the signs of a basilar skull fracture?

A basilar skull fracture is a specific type of skull fracture that occurs at the base of the skull, which can lead to several distinctive clinical signs. The correct choice highlights key indicators of this type of injury.

The leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the nose or ears is significant, as it suggests that there is a tear in the dura mater, which covers the brain and spinal cord. This can occur when there's damage to the membranes that protect the central nervous system. Raccoon eyes, or periorbital ecchymosis, develop due to the pooling of blood around the eyes, resulting from fractures that affect the orbit or the surrounding skull. Battle's sign, which involves bruising behind the ear, typically indicates that there is a fracture affecting the mastoid process, again indicating a basilar skull fracture.

These signs collectively point to serious underlying brain injury and should prompt immediate medical attention. The other signs listed, although they may relate to head injuries in general, do not specifically denote a basilar skull fracture. For example, bleeding from the mouth and nose can occur in various head injuries but is not specifically indicative of a basilar fracture. Severe swelling on the scalp is a common response to blunt trauma but