title: Roller coaster-induced barotrauma.
abstract: We present the case of a 24-year-old male who presented to the otolaryngology clinic for otalgia and aural fullness after riding a roller coaster. We present his clinical course and outcome and briefly discuss the mechanism of injury and otologic barotrauma. Roller coasters have been reported as the cause of many different types of injuries, but this is the first reported case of otologic barotrauma. As the engineering for roller coasters continues to advance in terms of increasing speed, otolaryngologists need to be aware of a new etiology of otologic barotrauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. sameralkhudari@gmail.com
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Khudari
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loochtan
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaremchuk
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000209:etiology*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000293:injuries*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D006112:Gravitation; D019416:Head Movements; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D038781:Otoscopy; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000293:injuries*