title: Drill-generated sensorineural hearing loss following mastoid surgery.
abstract: Drilling during mastoid surgery may result in temporary noise-induced hearing loss. This has practical implications for both the patient and surgeon. In a prospective study of 40 patients, audiometric testing was done both preoperatively and postoperatively to try to detect any significant hearing loss in the immediate postoperative period. The data were analyzed using the Student's paired t test. No statistically significant difference was found. A sensorineural hearing loss soon after mastoid surgery is not due to the noise generated by the drill. In the event of any hearing loss during this period, other causes should be sought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, University of The Witwatersrand, Baragwanath, South Africa.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Urquhart
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Bodenstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects