title: Blast exposure: vestibular consequences and associated characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize vestibular and related symptoms seen after blast exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective single-subject design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care facility and military field hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Active-duty US Military personnel exposed to blast(s) in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vestibular function tests, auditory tests, and a structured history and physical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blast exposure induced vestibular disorders, and related symptoms are significantly different than those seen in blunt head trauma. The vestibular characteristics and objective tests of vestibular function significantly worsen in blast-exposed patients as a function of time between injury and presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blast exposure produces a unique set of vestibular disorders and associated symptoms that progress over time. Understanding the characteristics of these symptoms as they vary over time may be critical in designing treatment strategies that modify long-term outcome.
authors.affiliation: Spatial Orientation Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA 92134-2200, USA. Michael.hoffer@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hoffer
authors.forename: Carey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balaban
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gottshall
authors.forename: Ben J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Balough
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Maddox
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Penta
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004244:Dizziness / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D055815:Young Adult