Middle Ear and Sinus Barotraumas of Military Pilots in Finland

Middle ear and sinus barotraumas (MEBt and SBt) are common conditions in aviation medicine, but systematic prevalence data on military pilots in real-life military flight are lacking.

An anonymous electronic questionnaire was distributed to 170 consecutive military pilots of the Finnish Defense Forces as part of their annual flight physical examinations. The primary outcomes were the self-reported frequency, clinical characteristics, and occupational health effects of MEBt and SBt in flight. The secondary outcomes were factors associated with repeated MEBt and SBt in flight [odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs)].

In total, 74% (N = 126/170) of military pilots had experienced MEBt and 60% (N = 102/170) SBt during their careers. The symptoms warranted the use of medications in 19% of pilots with MEBt and in 21% of pilots with SBt; otorhinolaryngology-related surgical procedures in 4% of pilots with MEBt and in 14% of pilots with SBt; and sick leave in 17% of pilots with MEBt and in 20% of pilots with SBt. Factors most associated with repeated MEBt and SBt were episodes of MEBt (OR 5.56, 95% CI 1.07-28.88) and SBt (OR 40.61, 95% CI 7.51-219.70) in hypobaric pressure chamber tests, respectively.

MEBt and SBt are frequent in military pilots, causing the need for medications, otorhinolaryngology-related surgical procedures, and sick leave from flight duty. The factors most associated with repeated MEBt and SBt are episodes of MEBt and SBt in hypobaric pressure chamber tests in connection with the annual flight physical examinations, respectively. Lindfors OH, Leino TK, Mäntysaari M, Sinkkonen ST. Middle ear and sinus barotraumas of military pilots in Finland. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2026; 97(7):488-495.