The incidence, site, treatment and fate of labyrinthine fistula.

Although the incidence of labyrinthine fistula appears to be similar in most reported series, the number of patients reported to have a positive response to the fistula test do not. This may be due to a lack of uniformity in the performance of the test. The method of the author, the direction of eye movement and its diagnostic significance are described. The occurrence and mechanism of severe sensorineural hearing loss in 5 out of 20 patients in whom the matrix was removed accidently from the fistula during mastoidectomy is discussed.