1996 Volume 39 Issue 2 Pages 168-171
We report a case of post-traumatic incomplete ossicular disruption. The case was assumed initially as a traumatic ear drum perforation. However, a hearing impairment continued at 45 dB for 6 months and no pathological findings were detected in the tympanic cavity by means of highresolution CT scan. We planned and carried out an exploratory operation in the tympanum.
On the operation, a discontinuity was found in the incudostapedialjoint. The discontinuity was reconstructedby transposing the incus body trimmed, and after theoperation the gain in hearing level was 45 dB.
We may encounter cases with conductive deafness afterhead trauma where pathological lesions are difficult todetect by means of audiometry and imaging test. In such cases ossicular disruption may be detected by exploratory operation. Therefore, we recommend exploratory tympanotomy in such cases under informed consent.
