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Inner Ear Injuries (Tympanic Membrane Perforation), Sports Medicine

Rochelle M. Nolte, MD, FAAFP, CAQSM and John W. Hariadi, MD, FAAFP Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Disruption of the tympanic membrane, exposing the middle ear to the external auditory canal 

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Incidence

The incidence of tympanic membrane perforation in the general populat...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Ear pain (mild)

  • Decreased hearing (partial)

  • Severe pain or complete hearing loss in the affected ear suggests additional injuries.

  • Purulent or bloody discharge from ear canal

  • Tinnitus

  • Vert...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Medical treatment for perforations is directed at controlling otorrhea.

  • Clean debris from the ear canal.

  • Prescribe antibiotics if there is evidence of infection.

  • Acute otitis me...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Provide detailed discharge instructions.

  • Occlude the ear canal with cotton coated in petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment when showering to prevent entry of water into t...

REFERENCES

1
Wright D, Safranek S. Treatment of otitis media with perforated tympanic membrane. Am Fam Physician.  2009;79(8):650, 654.
2
Simsek G, Akin I. Early paper patching versus observation in...

ADDITIONAL READING

Golz A, Goldenberg D, Netzer A, et al. Paper patching for chronic tympanic membrane perforations. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.  2003;128(4):565–570. 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Infections are responsible from more tympanic membrane perforations than sports-related trauma.

  • No imaging is needed for uncomplicated tympanic membrane perforations.

  • Avoid ototoxic eard...

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