title: Perilymph fistulas in infants and children.
abstract: During the years 1975 through 1981 we performed exploratory tympanotomies on 33 infants and children (44 ears) to verify the presumptive diagnosis of perilymph fistula (PLF). A PLF was identified at the round window, oval window, or both in 29 (66%) of the 44 ears explored. After surgery hearing was unchanged in 86%, improved in 5%, and worsened in 9% of the ears in which PLFs had been observed. Complaints of vertigo subsided in all children in whom a PLF was repaired. Preoperative factors determined to be highly suggestive of the presence of a PLF included the following: sudden onset of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), congenital deformities of the head, and abnormal findings on tomograms of the temporal bones, especially Mondini-like inner ear dysplasias. Middle ear abnormalities (primarily congenital) were observed in 20 of the 44 ears. Abnormal results of preoperative vestibular function studies, which included a fistula test, and sex were not consistently found to be associated with an observed PLF at tympanotomy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007761:Labyrinthine Fluids; D008297:Male; D010046:Oval Window, Ear; D010498:Perilymph; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012405:Round Window, Ear; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests