[Internal ear injuries in diving: apropos of 16 cases]. / Accidents d'oreille interne en plongée sous marine: a propos de 16 cas.

After the study of 16 observations of inner ear injuries in diving, the authors remind us to the different mechanisms of inner ear's lesions. The principle of treatment depends of these mechanisms. Emergency is to recognize a decompression injury. So, all vestibular disorders must be considered as a decompression injury, as soon as, it was a saturating diving. Hyperbaric oxygenotherapy must be undertaken immediately. Though the symptomatology suggestive of fistula for 4 patients, no surgical exploration was done. The follow-up was marked by spontaneous amelioration, that make think of possible spontaneous cicatrization.

[Incidence of vertigo in diving]. / Incidence des vertiges en plongée sous marine.

Vertigo is relatively common after diving. Although it may be the result of the changes in pressure, it can also be a feature of decompression accidents, of clinical toxicity, simply be a manifestation of altered physiology resulting from immersion in a weightless environment in which all the organs involved in maintaining equilibrium (vestibular system, proprioception and vision) are affected. It seemed to us to be of interest to study the incidence of vertigo in naval divers by means of an anonymous questionnaire. The responses were elicited over a 3 month period from 333 divers. 45 divers reported clinical sensations of vertigo, an incidence of 13.5%. If this figure is related to the number of dives, the incidence falls to 0.06%. No decompression accidents were reported. The main aetiology was barotrauma, 42% being of alternobaric and 36% of pressure type. The remaining aetiologies were sensory illusions in 6% of cases, and other non-ENT causes in 16%. After a review of the physiopatholgy and study of the case hisotries, there is a discussion of the features which allow the aetiology to be determined and treatment planned.

[Blast injuries of the ear. Current status and study of 200 cases]. / Les lésions auriculaires par blast. Aspects actuels et étude de 200 cas.

Clinical case-reports of 200 patients with blast-induced lesions are used as a basis for a review of physical and physiopathologic factors. Otologic aspects of injuries due to high-intensity shock waves are discussed and clinical and histopathologic features described. The place of post-traumatic pressure induced injuries to ear in catastrophy medicine is emphasized.

[Lightning injury of the ear]. / Fulguration d'oreille.

Three cases of auricular fulguration are described and used as a basis for a review of physical characteristics and histopathologic consequences of lightning strikes. Cases are presented and discussed in relation to these fundamental and experimental data.

[Otologic complications of water beds]. / Les complications otologiques des lits fluidisés.

Since the introduction of the use of water beds several cases of ear infections have been observed. These are due to the escape of microspheres and the prevention of these manifestations requires strict manipulation of these beds.