A case of tympanic plate fracture following mandibular condylar fracture *
An 80-year-old man was brought to the Emergency Department of Kawasaki Medical School Hospital after having sustained a fall on November 27，2005．The patient had tripped and fallen on his chin while walking. Initial clinical examination revealed laceration of the mental region, a midline fracture of the mandible, fracture of the right condyle and bleeding from the right external auditory canal. His neurological state was satisfactory. The dental occlusion of full dentures was settling satisfactorily. A CT scan revealed a fracture of the right condyle with posterior displacement of the tympanic plate. Pure tone audiometry confirmed no conductive hearing loss. MRI demonstrated a normal contour of the disc with normal relationship between the fractured condyle and the disc when the mouth was open. The fractures of the mandible were managed conservatively and the patient underwent mouth-opening exercise. It should be emphasized that trauma to the temporomandibular joint can be associated with damage to the ear and careful aural examination is recommended in a fracture of the condyle. Packing of the external auditory meatus is not only effective for hemostasis, but is also important in avoiding subsequent meatal stenosis and its associated complications. (Accepted on September７，2006)
