Otorhinolaryngological contusions in mine-explosive injury

Abstract

Modern trends in the conduct of military conflicts dictate their own characteristics of the formation of the size and structure of sanitary losses of the otorhinolaryngological profile. Combat trauma to the organ of hearing is characterized not only by an increase in the total number of sanitary losses, but also by various features of the course of the wound process. The organ of hearing, with the development of weapons, becomes an increasingly unprotected and vulnerable area of impact of mine explosive weapons. However, such important characteristics as treatment, duration, and outcomes of ear, throat, and nose contusions are not sufficiently presented for adequate organization of medical support. Otorhinolaryngological contusions were considered in the total mass of contusion sanitary losses with a predominance of closed brain injury and often without taking into account otorhinolaryngological contusions. Victims completed treatment in separate medical battalions, hospitals and wards for the lightly wounded. The number of injured by shrapnel and concussion increases with the use of explosive weapons, due to an increase in associated wounds. The experience of the Great Patriotic War showed that otorhinolaryngological shell-shocked patients in frequency account for about 32.5% of all shell-shocked, therefore, in 67.5% of the remaining shell-shocked otorhinolaryngological contusions were concomitant, the main manifestation of the trauma was a closed brain injury. Otorhinolaryngological shell-shocked patients are a special case of general contusion or concussion-contusion syndrome from the direct impact of a sharp drop in air pressure during explosions. The leading manifestation of otorhinolaryngological contusion syndrome is vestibular and auditory disorders, decreased hearing acuity with a whole eardrum, which occurred in all victims. There were also neurological abnormalities such as short-term loss of consciousness, dizziness, fading nystagmus, stuttering, etc., which subsided a few days after the start of conservative therapy.