Learning Objectives:
Objective: The Pneumolabyrinth is a rare condition in which air is present in the inner ear due to abnormal pathways between the middle ear and inner ear. This condition can be caused by congenital reasons, middle ear surgery, head trauma. The cases of traumatic pneumolabyrinth is increasing due to the high resolution CT. But Symptoms and prognosis of traumatic pneumolabyrinth is not clarified yet and needs further investigation.
Methods: We reviewed 149 cases of head trauma Patients who underwent temporal bone CT between Jan 1st 2012 to Jan 1st 2014. Review of records was done according to the factors: temporal bone fracture, otic capsule involvement, location of air bubble, symptom improvement.
Results: Ten patients showed pneumolabyrinth with symptoms of dizziness and hearing loss. Dizziness which is related to air bubble in the vestibule showed symptom improvement in all 10 cases. While hearing loss followed by air bubble in the cochlea(5 cases) did not show symptom improvement. No correlation was found between Symptom improvement and otic capsule involvement.
Conclusion: In cases of traumatic pneumolabyrinth there are a few factors that can be considered to predict the prognosis. Location of the air bubble appears to be the key factor to predicting the prognosis.
