Management of pediatric otologic trauma
Overview There are a variety of injuries to the ear that can be seen in the pediatric population. These vary from minor lacerations of the external ear to more severe…
Vestibular rehabilitation following head injury
H.R. is a 53-year-old male who fell on ice, resulting in traumatic brain injury (TBI) characterized by a subdural hematoma. He returned to work within 2 months, as a computer…
Adult vestibular dysfunction following head injury: diagnosis and management
Introduction A patient’s sense of “balance” is a complex, dynamic phenomenon that integrates information from the visual, peripheral vestibular, and somatosensory systems. The vestibular system is comprised of both peripheral…
Medical and surgical management of otic barotrauma
Overview Otic barotrauma (OBT) is traumatic injury of the middle ear and tympanic membrane resulting from a high-pressure differential existing between the middle ear and external environment. In common daily…
Management of cerebrospinal fluid leak following lateral skull base trauma
Introduction Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can occur when a defect of the skull base and dura results in an abnormal communication between the subarachnoid space and nasal or middle…
Facial nerve injury following temporal bone fracture: diagnosis and management
Background Temporal bone trauma accounts for 5% of all facial palsy cases , and 3% of all bilateral facial palsy. Only 7% of temporal bone fractures result in facial palsy…
Vascular injury following lateral skull base trauma: diagnosis and management
Introduction Head trauma has been cited as the most frequent clinical presentation in the emergency department. According to a 2013 survey by American College of Surgeons, nearly 800 trauma admissions…
Conductive hearing loss after head injury: diagnosis and management
Introduction Head injury is a major source of disability and mortality worldwide. The CDC reports that in 2017 there were 224,000 head injury-related hospitalizations in the United States. Unintentional falls…
The neurosurgical management of lateral skull base trauma
Introduction The lateral skull base is comprised predominantly of the dense, pyramid-shaped petrous temporal bone. Fractures of the petrous temporal bone comprise approximately 20% of all skull fractures. Given the…
Labyrinthine concussion: diagnosis and management
Since the 20th century, the term “labyrinthine concussion” or “inner ear concussion” has been used to describe sensorineural hearing loss following head trauma in the absence of temporal bone fracture…
