Citation

Hoffer ME, Balaban C, Gottshall K, Balough BJ, Maddox MR, Penta JR. Otol. Neurotol. 2010; 31(2): 232-236.

Affiliation

Spatial Orientation Ctr, Dept of Otolaryngology, Naval Medical Center San Diego; 1st Marine Expeditionary Group; 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, California; Dept of Otolaryngology, Univ of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/MAO.0b013e3181c993c3

PMID

20009782

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To characterize vestibular and related symptoms seen after blast exposure. STUDY DESIGN:: Prospective single-subject design. SETTINGS:: Tertiary care facility and military field hospital. PATIENTS:: Active-duty US Military personnel exposed to blast(s) in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. INTERVENTIONS:: Vestibular function tests, auditory tests, and a structured history and physical examination. RESULTS:: Blast exposure induced vestibular disorders, and related symptoms are significantly different than those seen in blunt head trauma. The vestibular characteristics and objective tests of vestibular function significantly worsen in blast-exposed patients as a function of time between injury and presentation. CONCLUSION:: Blast exposure produces a unique set of vestibular disorders and associated symptoms that progress over time. Understanding the characteristics of these symptoms as they vary over time may be critical in designing treatment strategies that modify long-term outcome.

Language: en