Bitemporal compression injury caused by static loading mechanism. Report of two cases.

The authors report two cases of bitemporal compression injury caused by a static loading mechanism. These head injuries resulted from gradual bitemporal compression of the head. Plain skull films showed multiple skull fractures, and carotid angiography revealed internal carotid artery obstruction at the base of the skull. Neurological examination disclosed a slight disturbance of consciousness, hemiparesis, multiple cranial nerve injuries, and Horner's syndrome. In comparison with impact head injury, the energy from this type of trauma tends to be transmitted to the foramina and hiati of the middle cranial fossa and results in multiple injuries to the cranial nerves, sympathetic nerves, and blood vessels.