Klinik für Hals‑, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
HNO. 2023 Aug;71(Suppl 1):44-49. doi: 10.1007/s00106-022-01260-z. Epub 2023 Feb 27.
This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the frequency and type of firework-associated acoustic trauma occurring in Germany on New Year's Eve 2021, despite the ban on firework sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey period lasted 7 days, from 28 December 2021 to 03 January 2022. A questionnaire inquired date, type and treatment of trauma, sex, and age of the patient, and whether the trauma occurred when lighting or watching fireworks. Hearing impairment was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO grades 0 to 4), and concomitant tinnitus, vertigo, or other injuries were recorded. The questionnaire was sent to the otorhinolaryngology departments of 171 hospitals in Germany.
Of 37 otorhinolaryngology departments, 16 reported no and 21 reported 50 patients with firework-associated acoustic trauma. Mean age was 29 ± 16 years and 41 of 50 patients were males. Of these 50 patients, 22 presented without and 28 with hearing loss, 32 reported tinnitus and 3 vertigo; 20 patients were injured when lighting fireworks and 30 when watching. Hearing impairment was classified as 14 × WHO grade 0, 5 × WHO grade 1, 4 × WHO grade 2, 2 × WHO grade 3, and 3 × WHO grade 4. Inpatient treatment was received by 8 patients and 11 suffered from concomitant burn injuries.
Despite the sales ban, some firework-associated acoustic traumas occurred at New Year 2021/2022 in Germany. Some instances led to hospitalization, but an even higher number of unreported cases can be assumed. This study can serve as a baseline for further annual surveys to raise the awareness of the danger of seemingly harmless fireworks for the individual.
本横断面研究旨在评估 2021 年新年前夕德国因 COVID-19 大流行而禁止烟花销售，但仍发生的与烟花相关的听力损伤频率和类型。
调查期持续 7 天，从 2021 年 12 月 28 日至 2022 年 1 月 3 日。问卷询问了创伤发生的日期、类型和治疗方法、患者的性别和年龄，以及创伤是在点燃烟花还是观看烟花时发生的。听力损伤根据世界卫生组织（WHO 分级 0 至 4）进行分类，并记录了同时出现的耳鸣、眩晕或其他损伤。问卷发送给了德国 171 家耳鼻喉科医院。
在 37 个耳鼻喉科部门中，16 个报告无患者，21 个报告有 50 名与烟花相关的听力损伤患者。平均年龄为 29±16 岁，50 名患者中有 41 名是男性。在这 50 名患者中，22 名无听力损失，28 名有听力损失，32 名有耳鸣，3 名有眩晕；20 名患者在点燃烟花时受伤，30 名患者在观看烟花时受伤。听力损伤分为 14×WHO 分级 0、5×WHO 分级 1、4×WHO 分级 2、2×WHO 分级 3 和 3×WHO 分级 4。8 名患者接受了住院治疗，11 名患者同时遭受烧伤。
尽管有销售禁令，但德国在 2021/2022 年新年前夕仍发生了一些与烟花相关的听力损伤。有些情况导致了住院治疗，但可以假设还有更多未报告的病例。本研究可作为进一步年度调查的基线，以提高人们对看似无害的烟花对个人危险的认识。
