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Conductive hearing loss after head trauma: review of ossicular pathology, management and outcomes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2008

O J Basson  and
A C van Lierop
O J Basson
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
A C van Lierop*
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
*
Address for correspondence: Dr A C van Lierop, Division of Otolaryngology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.Fax: +2721214488865 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction:

This paper reviews our experience of ossicular chain injuries following head trauma treated at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Materials and methods:

We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with a history of head trauma and a conductive hearing loss who had undergone exploratory tympanotomy. Sixteen patients were included in the study.

Results:

Injury was most common at the incudostapedial joint (63 per cent). Disarticulations of the icudostapedial joint were treated with cartilage interposition in all cases. Audiography showed an improvement in 12 of the patients, with an average improvement of 35 dB.

Discussion:

We discuss the various options available to the otologist to repair ossicular disruptions after trauma. In this series, cartilage autografts were used in most incudostapedial joint injuries, with excellent closure of the air–bone gap.

Conclusion:

Cartilage interposition was a very successful method of repairing incudostapedial joint dislocation in this series, at short term follow up.

Keywords

Middle Ear OssiclesConductive DeafnessTraumaOtologic Surgical Procedures
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 2 , February 2009 , pp. 177 - 181
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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Footnotes

Presented at the Annual Academic Meeting of the South African Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, 14–17 November 2004, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

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