Diagnosis and treatment of combat injuries of the ear

The authors  discuss specifics of the  wound  process in modern  combat  injury of the  ear, significance  and  specifics of diagnosis  of gunshot ear injury related to individual characteristics of gunshot  wounds  with consideration of the  accepted anatomical classification of the injured zones. Typical complications of ear injuries are described that  can result in death. The authors  analyze an approach  to  surgical treatment of traumatic  ear injuries based on their own experience, including non-conventional choice  of the  type  of surgery. They proposed an algorithm to assess the auditory and  vestibular  analyzers in the  injured based  on their analysis of date obtained from 772 patients, determine types of pure-tone audiograms  typical for acoustic  and  barotrauma,  and  underline  the informative  value  of optokinetic  nystagmus   assessment. Various types of conservative  management of the sequelae of the mine-blast ear trauma are discussed  aimed at potential  minimization of the  post-traumatic reactions  of the  auditory  and vestibular  analyzers.  The  authors  draw attention to the importance of early treatment, the highest effectiveness of combination therapy and plasmapheresis. They propose  their  experience  of care for the above mentioned traumatic injuries to improve treatment efficacy.