[Mild head trauma: complications and acousticovestibular sequelae]

Head injury with fracture of the petrous bone is frequent and directly related to the development of human activity. Head trauma is associated with nearly 75% of traffic accidents; 5% of them with petrous bone fracture. Based on a clinical case, the acute injuries and secondary acoustic or vestibular sequelae after low-energy cranio-cerebral trauma are discussed here. The subject was a victim of a low-energy head trauma with brief loss of consciousness and translabyrinthine fracture of the petrous bone. This fracture caused invalidating equilibrium disorders related to a perilymphatic fistula. These disorders persisted for 3.5 years and required several hospitalizations and three surgical procedures. The acoustic problems progressed towards cophosis and persistent and invalidating tintinus. We discuss the pathogenesis and treatment of these different sequelae of the middle ear as well as the external lesions. Among labyrinthine involvement, especially unilateral destruction, fistulization, concussion, and post concussion syndrome are especially descripted. Bony dislocations dominate middle ear sequelae. We also discuss the medicolegal problems associated with this type of pathology.