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Blast-related ear injuries among U.S. military personnel

This study investigates blast-related ear injuries among U.S. military personnel during Operation Iraqi Freedom, exploring the effects of hearing protection and outcomes of hearing loss and tinnitus within a year post-injury.

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Blast-related ear injuries among U.S. military personnel

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  1. Blast-related ear injuries among U.S. military personnel Amber L. Dougherty, MPH; Andrew J. MacGregor, PhD, MPH; Peggy P. Han, MPH; Erik Viirre, MD, PhD; Kevin J. Heltemes, MPH; Michael R. Galarneau, MS

  2. Aim • Describe blast-related ear injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom. • Identify effect of hearing protection worn at point of injury. • Explore hearing loss and tinnitus outcomes within 1 year after injury. • Relevance • Blast-related ear injuries can adversely affect service-member’s situational awareness and operational readiness.

  3. Method • Expeditionary Medical Encounter Database was used to identify military personnel who survived blast-related injury. • It was linked with outpatient medical databases to obtain diagnoses of hearing loss and tinnitus.

  4. Results • Prevalence of ear injuries: • 30.7%. • Most common ear injury diagnoses: • “Inner or middle ear injury involving tinnitus” and tympanic membrane (TM) rupture. • Hearing protection reduced odds of ear injury involving tinnitus. • Personnel with TM rupture had higher odds of hearing loss and tinnitus outcomes than those without TM rupture.

  5. Conclusion • Ear injuries and hearing impairment are frequent consequences of blast exposure during combat deployment. • Hearing protection is warranted for all servicemembers at risk of blast exposure.

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