Thunder and lightning—a report on firework-associated acoustic trauma at New Year 2021/2022

• DOI: 10.1007/s00106-022-01260-z
• Publication Date: 2023-02-27T14:03:01Z
• Authors: Veronika Flockerzi; Bernhard Schick; ; Justus Ilgner; Gerhard Hesse; Peter Jecker; Herbert Eichwald; Steffen Dommerich; Andreas O. H. Ger...; Stephanie Hoppe; Jörg Ebmeyer; Jan Peter Thomas; Friedemann Papst; Joachim Hornung; Stephan Lang; Andreas Knopf; Philipp Dost; Christoph Arens; Christian Wrobel; Jörg Langer; Adrian Münscher; Thomas Lenarz; Olcay Cem Bulut; Matti Hein; Johanna Inhestern; Veronika Flockerzi; Bernhard Schick; Alessandro Bozzato; Philippe Federspil; Petra Ambrosch; Sandra Schmidt; O. Ebeling; Efastathios Papat...; Claudia Scherl; Sandra Schmidt; Boris A. Stuck; Benedikt Hofauer; Basel Al Kadah; Klaus Bumm; Martin C. Jäckel; Gregor Hilger; Birgit Muschal; Sven Becker; Theo Evers; Alessandro Bozzato
• Keywords: Concomitant; Fireworks

Abstract Background 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 ban firework sales due COVID-19 pandemic. Materials methods The survey period lasted 7 days, from 28 December 2021 03 January 2022. A questionnaire inquired date, treatment trauma, sex, age patient, whether occurred when lighting or watching fireworks. Hearing impairment was classified according World Health Organization (WHO grades 0 4), concomitant tinnitus, vertigo, other injuries were recorded. sent otorhinolaryngology departments 171 hospitals Germany. Results Of 37 departments, 16 reported no 21 50 patients with trauma. Mean 29 ± years 41 males. these patients, 22 presented without hearing loss, 32 tinnitus 3 vertigo; 20 injured fireworks 30 watching. as 14 × WHO grade 0, 5 1, 4 2, 2 3, 4. Inpatient received by 8 11 suffered burn injuries. Conclusion Despite ban, some traumas at Year 2021/2022 Some instances led hospitalization, but an even higher number unreported cases can be assumed. serve a baseline for further annual surveys raise awareness danger seemingly harmless individual.