Inner Ear Damage by Firecracker Trauma

Abstract

Firecrackers are still popular among the general public of various populations worldwide. This study investigated inner ear damage in patients with firecracker trauma and analyzed noise levels in 6 kinds of commercially available firecrackers. During the past 20 years, we have experienced 30 patients with firecracker trauma. An inner ear test battery comprising audiometry, cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP and oVEMP) tests and a caloric test was performed. The real-time noise levels were measured outdoors at a distance of 2, 4 and 6 m away from a lighting firecracker to mimic a noise event. Mean hearing levels at high frequencies (4,000 and 8,000 Hz) were significantly higher than those at the low and middle frequencies, indicating that firecrackers mostly cause high-tone hearing loss. For the vestibular damage, abnormality percentages were higher in the results of cVEMP (80%) and oVEMP (60%) tests, but not in the caloric test (8%). In conclusion, most firecrackers exhibited noise levels > 110 dB SPL even at a distance of 6 m. This blast injury simultaneously damaged the cochlea, saccule and utricle, but spared the semicircular canals, indicating that blast exposure potentiates the adverse effect of noise exposure on both cochlear and vestibular partitions.

Firecracker-induced gastric perforation: A case report and review of literature

“…Not only the speed and force of impact are responsible for firecracker injuries but they are also implicated for inner ear damage due to noise. It is seen that mean hearing levels at high frequencies (4000 and 8000 Hz) were significantly higher than those at the low and middle frequencies, thus indicating that firecrackers mostly cause high-tone hearing loss [10]. A similar case report has been reported in the literature, with a 7-year-old child while using illegal fireworks presented with a superficial laceration on the belly, intestinal perforation, and extensive hand injuries.…”

Seltene Erkrankungen des vestibulären Labyrinths: von Zebras, Chamäleons und Wölfen im Schafspelz

“…One study on patients with traumatic brain injury showed that otolith organ specific hypofunction (pathological VEMPs, tilted subjective visual vertical) was diagnosed in 72% of patients suffering from dizziness, but only in 20% of those without dizziness 65 . Furthermore, reduced c- and oVEMP responses along with normal semicircular function are often found after blast trauma 66 .…”

“…In einer Studie wurde bei Patienten mit Schwindel (« dizziness ») nach Schädel-Hirn-Trauma in 72% der Fälle ein einseitiges Otolithendefizit diagnostiziert (pathologische VEMPs, verkippte subjektive visuelle Vertikale), während die Patienten ohne Schwindel nach vergleichbarem Trauma nur in etwa 20% auffällige Befunde in der Funktionsprüfung der Otolithen-organe aufwiesen 65 . Auch nach Explosionstraumata finden sich gehäuft reduzierte c- und oVEMP-Antworten 66 .…”

Schlag auf Schlag – Bericht über feuerwerksbedingte Knalltraumata zum Jahreswechsel 2021/2022

“…Das heutige Feuerwerk hat seinen Ursprung in einer asiatischen Tradition, Bambus zu erhitzen, was zu typisch knallenden Geräuschen führt [ 8 ]. Das Feuerwerk soll zur Begrüßung des neuen Jahres allen Menschen Freude bringen und böse Geister vertreiben.…”

“…Das Feuerwerk soll zur Begrüßung des neuen Jahres allen Menschen Freude bringen und böse Geister vertreiben. Beginnend mit dieser Tradition um 200 vor Christus [ 8 ] hat sich seither einiges geändert: Die Leuchteffekte wurden ausgefallener und farbenfroher, der gewünschte Klangeffekt blieb.…”