Emergency: requires immediate attention
Labyrinthine fistula
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis
This is considered an otologic emergency due to the possibility of permanent sensorineural hearing loss in the affected ear with or without repair.
Infection, prior ear surgery, and trauma are common causes of fistula formation. In congenital cases, recurrent meningitis may result from the congenital anomaly.
Labyrinthine fistulae are surgically repaired, although rarely they may spontaneously heal. Patients should be instructed to remain on bed rest with an elevated head of the bed.
Codes
ICD10CM:H83.19 – Labyrinthine fistula, unspecified ear
SNOMEDCT:
89097000 – Labyrinthine Fistula
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Vertebrobasilar dissection (see vertebral artery dissection)
- Cerebellar stroke
- Autoimmune etiology
- Hereditary hearing loss
- Vascular disease
- Trauma
- Recent otologic surgery
- Meniere syndrome
- Vestibular schwannoma
- Congenital abnormalities (ie, Mondini dysplasia)
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Therapy
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References
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Last Reviewed:11/17/2021
Last Updated:11/17/2021
Last Updated:11/17/2021