Clinical Presentation of Hearing Loss After Contact with a Fish: Case Report

Background: A 33-year-old pregnant woman experienced ear trauma from contact with a fish while swimming. Afterwards, the woman presented with vertigo and hearing loss. Methods: Clinical examination showed a foreign body (FB) in the middle and inner ear, which was removed surgically under general anesthesia. Postoperative care included antibiotics; the FB was sent to the lab for analysis. Results: Although vertigo resolved after surgical intervention, the woman continued to experience hearing loss and finally experienced deafness. Patient had an unusual mechanism of inner ear trauma. The FB was identified as part of a fish and determined to originate from a fish species of the genus Hemiramphus which is listed as harmless to humans in FishBase. Conclusions: As severe penetration of an FB into the middle and inner ear can lead to serious complications, removal of an FB from the ear requires special competence and should therefore only be performed by specifically skilled professional staff.