Rupture of the round window membrane.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• A perilymph leak into the middle ear, often through a ruptured round window membrane, causes significant auditory and vestibular symptoms.
• These leaks are frequently associated with predisposing incidents that elevate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure.

Observation:

• This study details the case histories of thirteen patients diagnosed with a perilymph fistula.
• Common predisposing factors included events causing a rise in CSF pressure.

Findings:

• Analysis of symptomatology and diagnostic investigations were performed.
• Surgical intervention demonstrated a uniformly satisfactory response for vertigo symptoms.
• Improvement in hearing loss and tinnitus following surgery was more variable and difficult to predict.

Implications:

• Surgical treatment for perilymph fistulas is highly effective for vertigo.
• Further research is needed to optimize surgical outcomes for hearing loss and tinnitus associated with these fistulas.