Head trauma: Hearing loss and dizziness

Journal/Book: J Trauma. 1996; 40: 351 West Camden St, Baltimore, MD 21201-2436. Williams & Wilkins. 488-496.

Abstract: Objective: Because the physicians who care for patients with head trauma may be family practitioners or internists, this article provides these physicians some knowledge of the causes and patho-physiology of such trauma with respect to neurotologic sequelae to aid in their decisions to seek consultation with neurotologists and otoneurologists in diagnosis and management. Methods: This article reviews the literature concerning differential diagnosis, appropriate evaluation, acid possible treatments of patients who exhibit hearing loss and dizziness after head trauma, whiplash injuries, or both, I also relate those findings to my extensive experience with such neurotologic problems. Findings: The findings are grouped according to injuries that cause dizziness, including trauma to the brain stem-eighth nerve complex, the semicircular canals (labyrinthine concussion), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's syndrome-vestibular symptoms, perilymphatic fistula-vestibular symptoms, and cervical vertigo; and those that cause hearing loss, including trauma to the brain, eighth nerve, middle ear, cochlear concussion, Meniere's syndrome, and perilymphatic fistula.

Note: Review DC Fitzgerald, Washington Hosp Ctr, Capital Ear Grp, Dept Otol & Neurotol, 106 Irving St NW, Suite 147, Washington, DC 20010 USA

Keyword(s): head trauma; dizziness; hearing loss; Meniere's syndrome; perilymphatic fistula; PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO; SHAKING NYSTAGMUS; VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION; PERILYMPHATIC FISTULAS; SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT; CONCUSSION; EXPERIENCE; WHIPLASH; DISEASE; INJURY

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