Bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss following indirect lightning exposure successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy: a case report.
Recep Özkan, Osman Türkmen, Kübra Yapici et al.
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Case in brief
A 26-year-old man experienced sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss after indirect lightning exposure, accompanied by transient syncope and limb weakness. Initial audiometry revealed severe hearing loss with pure-tone averages of 70 dB HL in the right ear and 75 dB HL in the left ear. After systemic corticosteroids failed, hyperbaric oxygen therapy was initiated 105 days post-injury, leading to significant hearing recovery, with final pure-tone averages of 15 dB HL and 12 dB HL.
What made this case unusual
The case highlights the rare occurrence of severe bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss following indirect lightning exposure, along with keraunoparalysis.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider indirect lightning exposure as a potential cause of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, especially in patients presenting with associated neurological symptoms.
Why it matters
This case underscores the potential effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating delayed hearing loss due to indirect lightning injuries, suggesting a multidisciplinary approach may be beneficial.