TITLE:
Otological Injuries Observed in Head and Neck Trauma in a Second-Line Hospital
AUTHORS:
Ghislaine Neuilly Ngniée Tafo, Koné Fatogoma Issa, Samaké Djibril, Timbo Samba Karim, Keita Mohamed
KEYWORDS:
Otological Lesions, Trauma, Sequelae, Hearing Loss, Disability
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.11 No.3,
May
23,
2022
ABSTRACT: Otological injuries are common during cervicofacial
trauma. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological
characteristics and to map otological injuries during head and neck trauma. This was an observational, descriptive, prospective
study conducted at the ENT unit of the Referral Health Center Hospital in Mali
from January 2017 to September 2018. Patients with middle and/or inner ear
injuries due to trauma were included. The prevalence of otologic injuries was
34.54% of cases. The mean age was 25 years and the sex
ratio was 1.11. Students accounted for
42.10%. The mechanism of occurrence was an intentional assault in 68.42% of the cases followed
by road traffic accidents (15.79%). The most common functional signs were hearing loss (68.42%), tinnitus
(57.89%), and facial paralysis in 5.26%. Otoscopy showed tympanic perforation (47.83%),
otorrhagia (21.05%) and otoliquorrhea (5.26%). Rock fractures with osteodural breach (10.53%) and
pneumencephaly were found on a CT scan of the rock. The evolution was marked by the regression of the
facial paralysis and the healing of the tympanum in 45.45% of the cases.
Sequelae persisted in the form of sensorineural deafness (17%). The otological lesions observed during cervicofacial
trauma are varied. The challenges in our context are felt at three levels: the
improvement of the technical platform, the long-term follow-up of patients, and
the cost of care in terms of equipment. These lesions are responsible for disabling deafness, a source of difficulty in social and school
integration.