Pneumolabyrinth Associated with Otic Capsule-Violating Fracture: Diagnosis and Clinical Features.
- Author:
Ilju KO
1
;
Hyo Jeong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea. hyojlee@hallym.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Skull fractures;
Bony labyrinth;
Temporal bone;
Sensorineural hearing loss
- MeSH:
Ear;
Ear, Inner;
Follow-Up Studies;
Hearing;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural;
Humans;
Male;
Medical Records;
Referral and Consultation;
Retrospective Studies;
Skull Fractures;
Temporal Bone;
Vestibular Function Tests
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2008;51(12):1081-1087
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pneumolabyrinth, the presence of air in the inner ear is an evidence of a pathological connection between the fluid-filled space of inner ear and the air-filled space of mastoid/middle ear cavity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of pneumolabyrinth combined with temporal bone fracture. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Among 51 patients with temporal bone fracture, those who visited a secondary referral center between January 2005 to March 2008, 6 patients (7 ears, one bilateral case) with pneumolabyrinth were selected for a retrospective review on their medical records and radiologic findings. RESULTS: All six patients were male, and had concomitant otic capsule-violating fracture in the affected side. All pneumolabyrinths were diagnosed in the CT images taken on the date of trauma, and in one case, the pneumolabyrinth disappeared in a follow-up CT which was taken after 5 days. Six affected ears out of 5 patients showed profound sensorineural hearing loss and one patient with down-sloping severe sensorineural hearing loss showed partial recovery of hearing threshold a month later. Vestibular function tests were performed in four cases and vestibular weaknesses were identified in all affected ears. CONCLUSION: Immediate high-resolution CT might improve the detection rate of pneumolabyrinth combined with temporal bone fracture. Otic capsule-disrupting fracture has been considered to be synonymous with irreversibly severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, but one case showed partial recovery in this study. Follow-up audiometric tests are needed to check the recovery of hearing threshold.
