Conservative management of post-traumatic pneumolabyrinth: case report

Abstract Introduction Pneumolabyrinth, defined by the presence of air in the labyrinth, is a rare clinical finding that can occur as a result of middle ear trauma, such as a traumatic injury with Q-tips. Case report We report the case of a patient that presented to the emergency department with vertigo and hearing loss complaints after aural cleansing with a Q-tip. On examination, the left tympanic membrane was perforated and there were signs of left vestibulopathy. A high-resolution CT scan was performed, and it showed the presence of air in the inner ear. Conservative management, instead of a surgical approach, was performed, with overall good vestibular and hearing outcomes. Discussion There is no clinical consensus on the best treatment of pneumolabyrinth, since, even with surgery, outcomes, mainly hearing outcomes, are usually poor. Nevertheless, surgery is usually reserved for patients with incapacitating vertigo or worsening hearing loss.