Inner ear barotrauma: a retrospective clinical series of 50 cases

(Edmonds C. Inner ear barotrauma: a retrospective clinical series of 50 cases. SPUMS J. 2004; 34: 11-4.) A retrospective series of 50 cases of inner ear barotrauma is reviewed, as regards the diving and otological history, the clinical manifestations, basic audiometric investigations and treatments. This disorder may be predicted to some degree by a previous history of otological barotraumas, otological pathology and the use of inappropriate middle ear autoinflation and diving techniques. The absence of tympanic membrane haemorrhage does not exclude the diagnosis, nor does a delay between the dive and the developing symptoms. The dive profile, symptomatology and investigations assist in verifying the site of the lesion and the likely damage, as well as differentiating inner ear barotrauma from various decompression sickness manifestations, including inner ear, cerebellar and cerebral. Treatment procedures and indications are reviewed.