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Otologic injuries are frequent in pediatric patients with temporal bone fractures.

Otologic injuries are frequent in pediatric patients with temporal bone fractures.

Authors :
Thorén H
Mäyränpää MK
Mäkitie A
Niemensivu R
Suominen A
Snäll J
Source :
Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery : official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery [J Craniomaxillofac Surg] 2023 Jan; Vol. 51 (1), pp. 24-30. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jan 25.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to clarify the occurrence and types of otologic injuries in children and adolescents with skull fractures. Files of all patients under 18 years of age who had been diagnosed with skull fractures at a tertiary trauma centre were included. The primary outcome variable was the presence of any otologic symptom or finding. Secondary outcome variables were clinically detected and radiologically detected otologic injuries. The primary predictor variable was a temporal bone fracture. Other study variables were sex, age, mechanism of injury, traumatic brain injury, and mortality. A total of 97 patients were identified for the study. Otologic symptoms and findings were frequent (33.9%). The most common clinical findings were bleeding from the external auditory canal (18.6%) and hemotympanum (13.4%). The prevailing radiological finding was blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid in the middle ear (30.9%). Patients with fractures of temporal bone had a 29-fold risk for otologic symptoms or findings (RR 28.9, 95% CI 4.1-202.9, p < 0.001) relative to those who did not have a temporal bone fracture. Severe otologic complications, such as permanent hearing loss (6.2%), cerebrospinal fluid leak (5.2%), or facial nerve palsy (1%), were infrequent. Within the limitations of the study it seems that there is the necessity of otoscopy in all pediatric patients with blunt head trauma. In case of positive otologic findings, the patient should undergo imaging and ENT consultation.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None<br /> (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1878-4119
Volume :
51
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery : official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36740516
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcms.2023.01.011