Sudden bilateral hearing loss after spinal anaesthesia

Abstract

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is one of the most widely used regional anaesthesia techniques. Sudden bilateral hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia has only been reported in a few cases. Case report: This paper reports the case of a 50-year-old woman who developed sudden bilateral hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia for hallux valgus orthopaedic surgery. This is followed by a literature review. Results: The patient's hearing improved almost completely on the morning of the 3rd day following surgery. No recurrence of hearing loss, tinnitus or vertigo was reported during the six-month follow-up period. Conclusion: Some complications regarding hearing may emerge after spinal anaesthesia. The possibility of hearing loss after spinal anaesthesia should be taken into consideration. Complaints such as hearing loss, tinnitus or vertigo should be taken seriously when reported, and the patient should be referred to an ENT clinic. This will ensure early diagnosis and treatment.