Traumatology of the ear and temporal bone

Abstract

In addition to injuries to the pinna otologic traumatology comprises in particular injuries of the tympanic membrane and ossicular chain, temporal bone fractures together with accompanying impairment of the labyrinth and facial nerve as well as acoustic trauma and barotrauma. Depending on the mechanism of injury and typical symptoms, such as hemorrhagic otorrhoea, hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, facial nerve palsy, otoliquorrhea or pseudorhinoliquorrhea, further investigations should be planned. The present article provides an overview of the necessary further diagnostic measures as well as the therapeutic options currently available for all forms of injury mentioned here.