Otologic and audiologic lesions due to blast injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of blast injury on the otologic and hearing state over time.


METHODS
Otology unit of a tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Seventy-three patients aged 16 to 73 years who sustained physical trauma from an explosion underwent otologic and audiologic examination 3-4 months and one year later.


RESULTS
At the first examination, high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss was detected in 57 patients (78%), mixed hearing loss in 13 (19%), and low-tone conductive hearing loss in two (3%). Conductive hearing loss had improved by one year, while the cochlear hearing loss, in most cases, did not. Only 7% of the patients with tinnitus reported improvement after one year.


CONCLUSIONS
The permanent otologic damage caused by blast injury cannot be determined before one year after the traumatic event.
Nageris
Ben I
BI
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqwa, Israel. bennyn@clalit.org.il
Attias
Joseph
J
Shemesh
Rafi
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult