Isolated fracture of the manubrium of the malleus

To describe a series of five patients with isolated fracture of the manubrium of the malleus. Retrospective case series. Five patients aged 44-64 years with isolated fracture of the manubrium who presented to our institution over a five-year period (2000-2005). All patients presented with a history...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2008-09, Vol.122 (9), p.898-904
Main Authors: Chien, W, McKenna, M J, Rosowski, J J, Merchant, S N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Audiometry
Biological and medical sciences
Conductive Deafness
Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology
Female
Fracture
Fractures, Bone - complications
Fractures, Bone - diagnosis
Fractures, Bone - therapy
Hearing Loss, Conductive - etiology
Hearing Loss, Conductive - therapy
Humans
Laser-Doppler Flowmetry
Male
Malleus
Malleus - injuries
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Non tumoral diseases
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:To describe a series of five patients with isolated fracture of the manubrium of the malleus. Retrospective case series. Five patients aged 44-64 years with isolated fracture of the manubrium who presented to our institution over a five-year period (2000-2005). All patients presented with a history of digitally manipulating the external auditory canal, leading to the manubrial fracture, which we presume was due to a suction-type mechanism. Otomicroscopy often revealed a break in the smooth contour of the manubrium. All patients had air-bone gaps on audiometry, especially at higher frequencies. Tympanometry showed hypermobility of the tympanic membrane in four patients who were tested. Laser-Doppler vibrometry revealed increased umbo velocity in four out of five patients. Four patients were treated conservatively. One patient underwent exploratory tympanotomy with successful ossiculoplasty. Isolated fracture of the manubrium is a rare condition which may present as sudden-onset hearing loss after digital manipulation of the external auditory canal. The diagnosis can be made on the basis of otomicroscopy, audiometry, tympanometry and laser-Doppler vibrometry. Conservative treatment is often successful.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1017/S0022215107000990