Correlation of aural foreign bodies with handedness: An observational study in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Abstract

Foreign body in the ear is commonly encountered by otolaryngologist worldwide. The aim of the study is to determine the correlation of aural foreign body with patient’s handedness. This is a prospective cross-sectional study of patients with aural foreign body seen in the Accident and Emergency Unit and ENT clinic of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, between February 2008 and January 2009. Questionnaire and case notes of patients were used as data instruments for the study. Information retrieved were entered into SPSS version 11.0 computer soft ware and analyzed. A total of 78 consented patients with mean age of 10.6 years (SD =10.1 ± 1.0) were involved. Handedness of the patients showed 50 (64.1%) were right handed, 24 (30.8%) were left handed and 4 (5.1%) were not sure of their handedness or used both hands. In the correlation of handedness where foreign bodies were found, the right handed has more in the right ear in 41 (80.3%) and the left handed has more of the FB in the left ear 9 (33.3%). The P value was 0.0003 with a relative risk of 2.5. Grain/seed constituted the commonest foreign body in 42.8%. About 64.1% of the foreign bodies were found in the right ear and 35.9% in the left ear. There was correlation between handedness of the patients and site where foreign bodies were found. Key words: Correlation, foreign bodies, ear, handedness, otolaryngologists.