Which sign is commonly associated with basilar skull fracture?

• A. Battle sign
• B. Facial numbness
• C. Limb weakness
• D. Chest pain

Answer: (A)

Battle sign is a classic indicator of basilar skull fracture. It refers to bruising behind the ear from blood tracking into the mastoid area and temporal bone involvement, which signals a fracture at the skull base. This injury often accompanies other base-of-skull findings such as periorbital ecchymosis and potential cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the ear or nose. In contrast, facial numbness would suggest nerve injury rather than a base skull fracture, limb weakness points to spinal or hemispheric injuries, and chest pain is unrelated to skull base trauma. The presence of Battle sign, though not always immediate, strongly guides the clinician toward a base skull fracture in the appropriate clinical context.