atmospheric inner ear barotrauma
atmospheric inner ear barotrauma
Injury to the inner ear which may be permanent due to inner ear damage, most common in divers.Clinical findings
Sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus; less often, vertigo, nystagmus and ataxia; divers usually report symptoms during descent, with unilateral difficulty clearing negative pressure.
Management
• Conservative—bed rest, head elevation, monitoring of auditory and vestibular Sx.
• Surgical—tympanotomy and middle ear exploration (reserved for progressive hearing loss or persistent vestibular symptoms).