Which finding is a basilar skull fracture sign?

Which finding is a basilar skull fracture sign?

• A. Clear or pink drainage from nose/ears (basilar skull fracture sign)
• B. Pupils equal, round, reactive to light
• C. Central support structure of vertebrae
• D. C1-C7 vertebrae in neck

Answer: (A)

Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the nose or ears is a classic sign of a basilar skull fracture. After head trauma, clear or blood-tinged drainage indicates CSF escaping through a fracture at the skull base, which directly points to this type of injury. The other options describe either normal neurologic findings or unrelated anatomy and do not indicate skull-base trauma.

Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the nose or ears is a classic sign of a basilar skull fracture. After head trauma, clear or blood-tinged drainage indicates CSF escaping through a fracture at the skull base, which directly points to this type of injury. The other options describe either normal neurologic findings or unrelated anatomy and do not indicate skull-base trauma.