What it means
Purple-blue bruising of the skin around both eyes. After a head injury, it is a classic sign of a fracture at the base of the skull (basilar skull fracture), as blood tracks into the tissue around the eyes; it often appears hours after the injury. It can also follow a direct blow to the face or nose.
For the nurse
In a head-injured client, check for clear fluid from the nose or ears (halo signHAY-loe sineA ring of clear or pale yellow fluid around a central spot of blood when drainage dries on gauze or a sheet.Full entry ) and report it. Do not put anything in the nose, such as a nasogastric tube or nasal suction, until a skull base fracture is ruled out.
At a glance
| Also written | raccoon sign, periorbital ecchymosis |
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Related terms
intracranial pressure
The pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.
Battle sign
Bruising over the bone just behind the ear.
halo sign
A ring of clear or pale yellow fluid around a central spot of blood when drainage dries on gauze or a sheet.