Abstract
Airbags are clearly successful at mitigating injury severity during motor vehicle accidents. Deployment unfortunately has introduced new injury-causing mechanisms. A retrospective review of 20 patients who sustained otologic injuries resulting from airbag inflation was conducted. The most common symptoms were hearing loss in 17 (85%) and tinnitus in 17 (85%). Objective hearing loss was documented in 21 of 24 (88%) subjectively affected ears; this included unilateral and bilateral sensorineural, unilateral conductive, and mixed hearing losses. Ten patients (50%) had dysequilibrium. Four subjects (20%) had a tympanic membrane perforation; each required surgical closure. Ear orientation toward the airbag was found to be associated with hearing loss ( P = 0.027), aural fullness ( P = 0.039), and tympanic membrane perforation ( P = 0.0004). A wide variety of airbag-induced otologic injuries occur and may have long-term sequelae. It is important for health care personnel to be aware of these potential problems. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;121:367-73.)
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