Recently, the patient, Master Li, went to the hospital for examination due to hearing loss in both ears for several years, and was diagnosed with tympanic membrane perforation. After endoscopic exploration of the tympanic chamber of the left ear, tympanic membrane repair and ossicle implantation, his hearing has improved significantly. So, what is tympanic membrane perforation, and what are its potential harms? Next, let's listen to Gu Shuhe, director of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Handan Mingren Hospital.
Can a perforated eardrum be cured? Will it recur?
Most perforations, whether caused by trauma or inflammation, are clinically curable. Traumatic perforations generally have a higher cure rate, while inflammatory perforations have a slightly lower cure rate. However, if you are injured or inflamed again, there is a possibility of recurrence.
What are the common symptoms of tympanic membrane perforation?
1. Pain: The perforation of the eardrum caused by otitis media will cause the patient to experience severe and long-lasting earache before the piercing, but once the perforation, the pain will be relieved immediately;
2. Ear canal drainage: After a perforated eardrum caused by otitis media, blood, yellowish-white pus or clear fluid may flow out of the ear canal, and after a traumatic tympanic membrane perforation, only blood will flow out of the ear canal.
3. Hearing loss: patients with otitis media have hearing loss before tympanic membrane perforation, and hearing will still be affected after perforation;
4. Tinnitus: Patients with otitis media may have tinnitus before tympanic membrane perforation, and tinnitus may persist or disappear after perforation, and patients may have transient tinnitus during traumatic tympanic membrane perforation. 5. Ear discomfort: Patients with otitis media may feel discomfort of ear fullness before the tympanic membrane perforation, and this discomfort may be relieved after the piercing.
What causes tympanic membrane perforation?
1. Caused by external force: The ear is impacted by an external force, or the air pressure imbalance between the external environment and the middle ear may cause the tympanic membrane to rupture due to the excessive pressure difference. This can happen, for example, when you get a slap or punch to the ear. There are also unexpected situations in life that can cause a perforated eardrum, such as insects flying into the ear and drilling through the eardrum. Even when sneezing and blowing the nose, perforation can occur due to retrograde impact of the eardrum. Damage to the eardrum can be caused by sudden changes in air pressure during take-off and take-off, improper ascent and diving operations during diving, and the impact of the airbag popping out when the car is impacted.
2. Strong sound at close range: Strong sound waves such as explosions and gunshots at close range may cause tearing of the eardrum.
3. Puncture wounds by foreign objects: When using cotton swabs, ear pickers, hairpins and other tools to clean the ear canal, if the force is too strong, it may puncture the eardrum.
4. Severe head injury: If a skull fracture occurs, it may cause damage to the structures in the ear canal, including the eardrum.
5. Problems caused by infection: otitis media (i.e., middle ear infection) often causes fluid accumulation in the middle ear, and if the fluid pressure is too large, it can lead to ruptured and perforated eardrum. In addition, the erosive nature of middle ear cholesteatoma may also cause tympanic membrane perforation.
Director Gu Shuhe reminded everyone that perforated eardrum can lead to damage to the middle and inner ear, further aggravate hearing loss, cause tinnitus, and may even form cholesteatoma, causing irreversible damage. The longer the piercing, the greater the damage. If you have symptoms such as ear pain, discomfort or sudden hearing loss, you should immediately go to the otolaryngology department of a regular hospital.
Source: Handan Mingren Hospital