HEARING LOSS IN BLAST TRAUMA VICTIMS. A MULTICENTRE RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Kamran Ashfaq Ahmed Butt; Naeem Riaz Bhalli; Wasif Siddique; Attique Ahmed; Maryam Khan; Manzoor Ahmed

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v71iSuppl-1.6203

Authors

Kamran Ashfaq Ahmed Butt Combined Military Hospital Gujranwala/National University of Medical Science (NUMS) Pakistan
Naeem Riaz Bhalli Combined Military Hospital Gujranwala/National University of Medical Science (NUMS) Pakistan
Wasif Siddique Combined Military Hospital Malir/ National University of Medical Science (NUMS) Pakistan
Attique Ahmed Combined Military Hospital/National University of Medical Science (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Maryam Khan Combined Military Hospital Lahore/National University of Medical Science (NUMS) Pakistan
Manzoor Ahmed Combined Military Hospital Kharian/National University of Medical Science (NUMS) Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v71iSuppl-1.6203

Keywords:

Blast Injuries, Hearing loss, Otologic disease, Tympanic membrane perforation

Abstract

Objective: To describe the resultant Otologic morbidity and report on the early outcomes following blasts occurring in twin cities of Quetta and Peshawar.

Study Design: Case series.

Place and Duration of Study: ENT department Tertiary Care Centre Quetta and Tertiary Care Hospital Peshawar. Study period was, from Jan 2013 to Dec 2013.

Methodology: All bomb blast patients brought to the hospitals were included in study. Participants completed Symptom Assessment Forms followed by detailed ENT examination and Pure Tone Audiograms on arrival and after 6 weeks.

Results: A total of 504 patients were included initially of which 80% of the patients were male. About 57.8% of the patients complained of ear injury, 21.6% of the total patients had tympanic membrane perforation on initial presentation. Chances of spontaneous closure of perforation were 20.9% in our study. Chances of hearing improvement were 17.9% in our study at the end of the study period.

Conclusion: Blast related otologic injuries constituted a major source of morbidity The most common type of hearing loss following a blast trauma was mild to moderate conductive type. Chances of recovery of hearing following blast do exist (17.9%). Suspected patients should be regularly assessed and followed up. Much work needs to be done to study the impact of blast trauma on hearing in our country.