Medico-Legal Aspects of Traumatic Ear Injuries and the Resulting Permanent Infirmities in Assiut University Hospitals

Almaz, Doaa Mohamed; Mohammed, Shimaa Abdelsamee; Aly, Maha Abdelgaber; Soliman, Asmaa

doi:10.21608/esctj.2024.305765.1064

Medico-Legal Aspects of Traumatic Ear Injuries and the Resulting Permanent Infirmities in Assiut University Hospitals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University.

² Public Health and Community Medicine Department. Faculty of medicine.

³ Audiovestibular Medicine unit, ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University.

⁴ Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department , Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University.

10.21608/esctj.2024.305765.1064

Abstract

Background: Post traumatic hearing loss has a great impact on the quality of life of individuals. Aim of the work: This study was done to identify the clinical and forensic aspects of ear injuries and their sequelae. Subjects and Methods: This study included patients with ear injuries who attended in Audio vestibular Medicine unit, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) clinic and the Trauma Unit of Assiut University Hospitals during a one-year period. Demographic data and injury characteristics were collected. Investigations were done for the patients to assess hearing condition to detect any permanent infirmity. Results: The study included 103 patients with ear injuries. More than one third of injuries were in the age group <20 years old, and (47.6%) were in the age group of 20 to 40 years old. Majority of patients were males. Temporal bone fracture was found in (63.1%) of cases. Foreign body insertion and motor car accident were significantly higher as mode of injuries in age category<20 years old. Conductive hearing loss was the most common disorder. Facial nerve and speech affections were also observed among patients. More than half of the patients completely recovered. Permanent infirmity due to hearing loss was recorded in (25.5%) of the study patients. Permanent infirmity in the present study was due to sensorineural hearing loss in (50.0%) and conductive hearing loss in (29.2%) of cases. Conclusion: Post-traumatic conductive hearing loss showed good outcome in affected patients while post-traumatic sensorineural hearing loss showed bad prognosis with great impact on quality of life of affected patients.

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