Otologic and audiologic lesions due to blast injury.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of blast injury on the otologic and hearing state over time.

SETTING

Otology unit of a tertiary referral center.

METHODS

Seventy-three patients aged 16 to 73 years who sustained physical trauma from an explosion underwent otologic and audiologic examination 3-4 months and one year later.

RESULTS

At the first examination, high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss was detected in 57 patients (78%), mixed hearing loss in 13 (19%), and low-tone conductive hearing loss in two (3%). Conductive hearing loss had improved by one year, while the cochlear hearing loss, in most cases, did not. Only 7% of the patients with tinnitus reported improvement after one year.

CONCLUSIONS

The permanent otologic damage caused by blast injury cannot be determined before one year after the traumatic event.