Long-term vestibular effects of blast trauma

In this study, the presence of dizziness in the late period was investigated in patients working in the Armed Forces who were exposed to blast trauma with a test battery consisting of cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory.

Twenty-two healthy adult volunteers (44 healthy ears) and 25 military personnel (43 patient ears) who had blast trauma were included in the study. The cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests were applied to the control and patient groups. The patient group also filled in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory.

The mean score of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory of the patient group was 14.80 ± 23.38. In cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests there was no significant difference in the comparison of P1 latency, N1 latency and P1N1 amplitude between control and patient groups.

It was observed that the functions of otolith organs were not affected in the late period after blast trauma.