Head Trauma-Induced Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome

Radiologic superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is not an uncommon finding, while many patients remain asymptomatic. We aimed to highlight minor head trauma as a risk factor for evolution into a clinically significant SSCD syndrome and provide the audiovestibular findings.

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Clinicians evaluating patients after minor head trauma who present with new vestibular or auditory symptoms (autophony, sound- or pressure-induced dizziness) should consider SSCD in the differential, particularly if imaging shows pre-existing thinning of the superior semicircular canal.

Recognizing that minor trauma can unmask pre-existing SSCD changes the post-trauma audiologic and vestibular assessment framework, potentially reducing diagnostic delays for a surgically treatable condition.

1. 01Minor head trauma can trigger symptomatic SSCD in patients with pre-existing radiologic (imaging-detected) canal thinning.
2. 02SSCD causes symptoms including autophony (hearing one's own voice loudly), dizziness triggered by sounds or pressure changes.
3. 03Published in The Laryngoscope; study design appears observational/case series.
4. 04Pre-existing radiologic SSCD findings should be considered a vulnerability factor in head trauma patients.
5. 05SSCD is surgically treatable, making early diagnosis clinically significant.

PMID

42657528

DOI

10.1002/lary.70856.

Journal

The Laryngoscope

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome following minor head trauma

Intervention

Minor head trauma in patients with pre-existing radiologic SSCD findings