otitic barotrauma


otitic barotrauma

An injury produced in the middle ear caused by the difference between the cabin pressure and the pressure within the middle ear cavities. It is commonly caused by flying when congested and the aircraft is descending. The severity of trauma depends on the amount of descent. One or both ears may be affected. The symptoms of otitic barotrauma are pain, deafness, possible eardrum rupture, and rarely vertigo. Also known as aero-otitis media