[Otosurgery in the professional rehabilitation of divers]

Factors responsible for barotraumas of the middle and internal ear of divers are discussed. A rapid, uncontrollable change in the intratympanic pressure upon diving may cause tympanum perforation, injury and displacement of auditory ossicles which, in turn, may lead to excitation of vestibular receptors. Barotraumas of the middle ear may also be produced by exostoses of the auditory meatus. The present work describes follow-up data of two divers who were grounded due to external and middle ear problems. One of them was operated on to remove bone exostoses that obturated the auditory meatus. The other diver underwent surgery to close the tympanic "barometric" perforation. After reconstructive surgery both divers resumed their professional activities. Both cases were followed-up for over three years.