Battle's sign

System: Neurological Signs · All neurological signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

Bruising that appears over the mastoid process, the bony lump behind the ear, in the days after a head injury.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with a fracture of the base of the skull.

◈ Behind the name

William Henry Battle (1855–1936), English surgeon.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.