Which finding is characteristic of a basilar skull fracture?

Which finding is characteristic of a basilar skull fracture?

• A. Periorbital hematomas (raccoon eyes)
• B. Severe ankle edema
• C. Jaundice
• D. Absent gag reflex

Answer: (A)

Basilar skull fractures involve the base of the skull, and one classic sign is bruising around the eyes due to blood tracking into the periocular tissues. Periorbital hematomas, or raccoon eyes, are a well-known hallmark of this type of injury and reflect bleeding near the skull base. This finding helps distinguish skull-base trauma from injuries that don’t involve the skull base. The other options don’t fit because ankle edema points to a lower limb issue, jaundice signals liver or biliary problems, and while cranial nerve involvement can occur with head trauma, an absent gag reflex is not a defining or specific sign of a basilar skull fracture.

Basilar skull fractures involve the base of the skull, and one classic sign is bruising around the eyes due to blood tracking into the periocular tissues. Periorbital hematomas, or raccoon eyes, are a well-known hallmark of this type of injury and reflect bleeding near the skull base. This finding helps distinguish skull-base trauma from injuries that don’t involve the skull base.

The other options don’t fit because ankle edema points to a lower limb issue, jaundice signals liver or biliary problems, and while cranial nerve involvement can occur with head trauma, an absent gag reflex is not a defining or specific sign of a basilar skull fracture.