Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1998 Apr;41(4):436-443.

Pattern of Ossicular Disruption after Head Trauma

• Park KH
• Chun YM
• Lee DH
• Shin SJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mechanization and reliance on motorized transportation place everyone in our society at risk for head injury. Temporal bone trauma is usually the result of blunt head injury in patients suffering from multiple body injury. Hearing problems can be neglected initially, but many patients complain of hearing difficulties later after the head trauma. If hearing loss is conductive, there is the possibility of the ossicular disruption. The ossicular disruption after the head trauma can develop with or without the temporal bone fracture line. The aim of this study was to analyze the types of ossicular disruption and to review their pathophysiology. MATERIALS & METHODS: In the present study, we analyzed 23 cases of ossicular disruption following head trauma (mean age: 20.2 years, Male: female=14:9). The diagnosis was based on medical history, physical examination, findings of temporal bone CT and confirmed with operative findings.
RESULTS
Among 6 types of ossicular disruption, we encounted 10 cases of complete incus dislocation, which was the most common type of ossicular disruption (43.5%). The most common cause of head injury was car accident. The fracture line of the temporal bone was found in 15 cases. In the 8 cases, we could not find any evidence of fracture.
CONCLUSIONS
Incus dislocation is the most common type of ossicular disruption after head trauma and the I-S joint is the weakest point of ossicular chain because of its anatomical structure.

Keyword

Ossicular disruption; Head trauma; Temporal bone fracture; Incus dislocation

MeSH Terms

Craniocerebral Trauma*
Diagnosis
Dislocations
Head Injuries, Closed
Head*
Hearing
Hearing Loss
Humans
Incus
Joints
Male
Physical Examination
Temporal Bone
Transportation