Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T06:57:10.010Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fluctuating hearing loss associated with Halo vest application

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2008

C R Davies-Husband ,
J S Phillips  and
A J Innes
C R Davies-Husband
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK
J S Phillips*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK
A J Innes
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr John S Phillips, Paddock House, The Common, Mellis IP23 8EF, UK E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

We report the unique case of a 16-year-old man presenting with sudden and profound left-sided hearing loss following application of a Halo vest.

Methods:

Case report and review of the world literature concerning spinal realignment procedures, spinal manipulation and Halo vest application.

Results:

A 16-year-old man presented to the ENT clinic with sudden and profound left-sided hearing loss after undergoing posterior release of a fixed flexion extension deformity of the cervical spine and Halo vest application. The hearing loss slowly improved until the patient disrupted the Halo vest while boarding a bus. Regular audiometry documented the progress of the patient's hearing loss.

Conclusion:

Procedures that significantly alter the established bony anatomy of the neck can be associated with profound audiological deficit through disturbance of the vertebrobasilar arterial system. Such a phenomenon may be associated with application or disruption of a Halo vest.

Keywords

Sensorineural DeafnessCervical VertebraeTraction
Type
Online Only Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 1 , January 2009 , e5
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Tomé, FM, Evangelista, T, Leclerc, A, Sunada, Y, Manole, E, Estournet, B, Barois, A, Campbell, KP, Fardeau, M. Congenital muscular dystrophy with merosin deficiency. C R Acad Sci III 1994;317:351–7Google ScholarPubMed
2 Leivo, I, Engvall, E. Merosin, a protein specific for basement membranes of Schwann cells, striated muscle, and trophoblast, is expressed late in nerve and muscle basement. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1988;85:1544–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3 Philpot, J, Sewry, C, Pennock, J, Dubowitz, V. Clinical phenotype in congenital muscular dystrophy: correlation with expression of merosin in skeletal muscle. Neuromuscul Disord 1995;5:301–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Vainzof, M, Marie, SK, Reed, UC, Schwartzman, JS, Pavanello, RC, Passos-Bueno, MR et al. Deficiency of merosin (laminin M or a2) in congenital muscular dystrophy associated with cerebral white matter alterations. Neuropediatrics 1995;26:293–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5 Wilson, WR, Byl, FM, Laird, N. The efficacy of steroids in the treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss: a double-blind clinical study. Arch Otolaryngol 1980;106:772–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6 Mattox, DE, Lyles, CA. Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Am J Otol 1989;10:242–7Google ScholarPubMed
7 Lee, H, Whitman, GT, Lim, JG, Lee, SD, Park, YC. Bilateral sudden deafness as a prodrome of anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction. Arch Neurol 2001;58:1287–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Nagaratnam, N, Mak, J, Phan, TA, Kalouche, H. Sudden permanent hearing loss following anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction. Int J Clin Pract 2002;56:153–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9 Toyoda, K, Hirano, T, Kumai, Y, Fujii, K, Kiritoshi, S, Ibayashi, S. Bilateral deafness as a prodromal symptom of basilar artery occlusion. J Neurol Sci 2002;193:147–50CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10 Levine, RA, Häussler, R. Auditory dysfunction in stroke. Acta Otolaryngol. 2000;120:689–703Google Scholar
11 Kim, JS, Lopez, I, DiPatre, PL, Liu, F, Ishiyama, A, Baloh, RW. Internal auditory artery infarction: clinicopathologic correlation. Neurology 1999;52:40–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Kunkle, EC, Muller, JC, Odom, GL. Traumatic brain-stem thrombosis: report of a case and analysis of the mechanism of injury. Ann Intern Med 1952;36:1329–35Google ScholarPubMed
13 Ford, FR, Clark, D. Thrombosis of the basilar artery with softenings in the cerebellum and brain stem due to manipulation of the neck; a report of two cases with one post-mortem examination, reasons are given to prove that damage to the vertebral arteries is responsible. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp 1956;98:37–42Google Scholar
14 Kanshepolsky, J, Danielson, H, Flynn, RE. Vertebral artery insufficiency and cerebellar infarct due to manipulation of the neck. Report of a case. Bull Los Angeles Neurol Soc 1972;37:62–5Google ScholarPubMed
15 Mehalic, T, Farhat, SM. Vertebral artery injury from chiropractic manipulation of the neck. Surg Neurol 1974;2:125–9Google ScholarPubMed
16 Bladin, PF, Merory, J. Mechanisms in cerebral lesions in trauma to high cervical portion of the vertebral artery – rotation injury. Proc Aust Assoc Neurol 1975;12:35–41Google ScholarPubMed
17 Davidson, KC, Weiford, EC, Dixon, GD. Traumatic vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm following chiropractic manipulation. Radiology 1975;115:651–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18 Easton, JD, Sherman, DG. Cervical manipulation and stroke. Stroke 1977;8:594–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19 Zimmerman, AW, Kumar, AJ, Gadoth, N, Hodges, FJ 3rd. Traumatic vertebrobasilar occlusive disease in childhood. Neurology 1978;28:185–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20 Krueger, BR, Okazaki, H. Vertebral-basilar distribution infarction following chiropractic cervical manipulation. Mayo Clin Proc 1980;55:322–32Google ScholarPubMed
21 Horn, SW 2nd. The “locked-in” syndrome following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine. Ann Emerg Med 1983;12:648–50CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22 Cellerier, P, Georget, AM. Dissection of the vertebral arteries after manipulation of the cervical spine: apropos of a case. J Radiol 1984;65:191–6Google ScholarPubMed
23 Smith, RA, Estridge, MN. Neurologic complications of head and neck manipulations. JAMA 1962;182:528–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24 Parkin, PJ, Wallis, WE, Wilson, JL. Vertebral artery occlusion following manipulation of the neck. N Z Med J 1978;88:441–3Google ScholarPubMed
25 Schellhas, KP, Latchaw, RE, Wendling, LR, Gold, LH. Vertebrobasilar injuries following cervical manipulation. JAMA 1980;244:1450–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26 Lind, B, Sihlbom, H, Nordwell, A. Forces and motions across the neck in patients treated with the halo-vest. Spine 1988;13:162–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27 White, AA 3rd, Panjabi, MM. The basic kinematics of the human spine: a review of past and current knowledge. Spine 1978;3:12–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed