Editing Battle's sign (section)

{{Short description|Bruises behind the ears, indicating skull fracture}}
{{Infobox medical condition
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 |image         = Battle sign hariadhi.svg
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 |differential  = indication of fracture of middle cranial fossa of the skull
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[[File:Cerebro spinal fluid leak svg hariadhi.svg|thumb|Signs of break in the base of the skull may include '''bruising behind the ears''' or around the eyes, or blood behind the ear drum. Blood or cerebrospinal fluid can leak from the nose or ear]]
'''Battle's sign''', also known as '''mastoid ecchymosis''', is an indication of [[Bone fracture|fracture]] of [[middle cranial fossa]] of the [[Human skull|skull]]. These fractures may be associated with underlying [[Traumatic brain injury|brain trauma]]. Battle's sign consists of bruising over the [[mastoid process]] as a result of [[extravasation]] of blood along the path of the [[posterior auricular artery]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Naumann| first = Hans Heinz |author2=Jan Helms | title = Head and neck surgery | publisher = Thieme | year = 1998 | pages = 154 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MK1brjp6gaEC&q=%22battle's+sign%22+vein&pg=PA154 |isbn = 0-86577-660-1}}</ref> The sign is named after [[William Henry Battle]].<ref>{{WhoNamedIt|synd|2976}}</ref>

Battle's sign takes at least one day to appear after the initial traumatic [[basilar skull fracture]], similar to [[raccoon eyes]].<ref>Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)</ref> It is usually seen after head injuries resulting in injury to mastoid process leading to bruising.

Battle's sign may be confused with a spreading [[hematoma]] from a [[mandibular fracture|fracture of the mandibular condyle]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Banks|first=Peter|title=Fractures of the facial skeleton|year=2000|publisher=Wright|location=Oxford|isbn=0723610347|page=43|author2=Brown, Andrew E.}}</ref>  which is a less serious injury.