Bilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) Following Lumbar Puncture: A Case Report

Abstract

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss affects frequently one ear (unilateral). A bilateral sudden SNHL is the rare form of SSNHL (5% of all cases) having mostly as aetiology diseases with a specific clinical pathology. Many case reports of a bilateral SSNHL in the literature include not only adult populations but also paediatric cases. A bilateral SSNHL following a lumbar puncture belongs to the rarest iatrogenic complications and it is an uncommon aetiology causing transient or permanent unilateral or bilateral hearing impairments. We report a case of a 83-year-old woman who developed on her chronic hearing loss a bilateral SSNHL after lumbar puncture and we discuss this case reviewing the current literature.