Ear Problems in Scuba Diving

[doctormike]

doctormike submitted a new resource:

Ear Problems in Scuba Diving - A reivew of dive related ear problems, by Michael Rothschild, MD

I am an avid technical rebreather diver, a longtime board member of our local dive club, a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist and a medical moderator on Scubaboard. In this capacity, I answer more questions about ear problems than any other medical issue in the context of diving.

The ear is uniquely positioned to be vulnerable to both external and internal injury in this sport. Furthermore, there is a great deal of confusion about the nature of...

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[Ukmc]

Strong work Mike!
Thank you for your time putting this resource together! It is useful for all our medical and non-medical comrades.

 

[doctormike]

Strong work Mike!
Thank you for your time putting this resource together! It is useful for all our medical and non-medical comrades.

Thanks!

 

[dead dog]

doctormike submitted a new resource:

Ear Problems in Scuba Diving - A reivew of dive related ear problems, by Michael Rothschild, MD



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I wished I read this 50 years ago, maybe I wouldn't have the ear problems I now have from the cold Pacific Ocean.

 

[Hojo in SC]

My eldest son developed vertigo for some odd reason, he wasn't sure if it was related to diving and has gone multiple test with ENT, including MRI, ECHO, nothing has been found to be a cause. It comes and goes, but never diving.

 

[leavenotrace]

Interesting you skip to balloon dilation of the eustachian tubes. What are your thoughts on upper cervical manipulation and it's impact on the eustachian tubes given the relevant anatomy?

 

[doctormike]

Interesting you skip to balloon dilation of the eustachian tubes. What are your thoughts on upper cervical manipulation and it's impact on the eustachian tubes given the relevant anatomy?

Not aware of reliable data suggesting that it works for ETD. The Eustachian tubes are embedded in the skull base, above the cervical vertebrae.

 

[leavenotrace]

Sorry about the spacing, I started compiling things on the computer then pasted em in here.

You're partially correct, the tubes descend exiting the base of the skull and are (later) flanked by the pterygoids originating on the sphenoid and inserting on the mandible.

Additionally the pterygoid venus plexus plays a role in the closure of the tubes.

That’s a bit of a curve, I didn’t mention TMJ dysfunction initially, but we’ve understood the problems with segmental dysfunction since Winsor’s work (Medical Times, November 1921, pp. 1-7) in 1921.

Back to vertebral segmental dysfunction - referencing Franz (International Tinnitus Journal, 2007 Number 2, pp. 132-137) we see illustrated the neurlogic pathways between the upper cervical complex - trigeminal ganglion - middle and inner ear, and the sympathetic chain ganglia and their neurologic pathway into the middle ear.