Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) Practice Exam

The presentation of dizziness and tinnitus in a patient who has suffered a traumatic injury strongly suggests labyrinthine concussion. Labyrinthine concussion occurs as a result of trauma impacting the inner ear or the structures involved in balance and hearing, such as the labyrinth. This condition can lead to disturbances in balance (dizziness) and abnormal auditory sensations (tinnitus).

Dizziness arises from disruption of the vestibular system housed within the inner ear, while tinnitus results from potential damage or irritation to the auditory pathways. Given the context of trauma, this combination of symptoms aligns well with labyrinthine concussion as it specifically affects the structures that govern both balance and hearing, leading to the clinical manifestations observed in this patient.

Other conditions may exhibit some overlapping symptoms, but they do not fully encapsulate the combination of dizziness and tinnitus as seen in labyrinthine concussion. For example, auditory neuropathy primarily affects the transmission of sound but doesn't typically present with balance disturbances. A basilar skull fracture might lead to specific neurological deficits and possibly tinnitus but is less directly associated with dizziness compared to inner ear injuries. Finally, an external ear injury may cause localized pain or hearing impairment, but it would not typically lead to the systemic sensations of dizziness and tinnitus experienced by the patient. Therefore, labyrinthine concussion