Spontaneous healing of traumatic perforations ofthe tympanic membrane

Abstract

Objective: To study the spontaneous healing of various types of traumatic perforations of the tympanic membrane in a prospective study carried out on patients with traumatic perforations of the tympanic membrane, presented to same author.Methods: Eighty patients with 84 traumatic perforations of the tympanic membrane were studied at Tikrit Teaching Hospital, during the period from Jan. to Dec. 2007. Diagnosis made by a history of trauma and otoscopic examination. Antibiotics were given to prevent or treat infections. Advice to keep the ear dry. Follow up the patients for a minimum of six months.Results: The male: female ratio was (2.6:1). Left ear perforation was more than right ear, (5%) were bilateral. The commonest cause was blast injury in 34 patients (43%), then hand slap in 22 patients (27.5%). The age of the patients was from 4-65 years, common age group affected was (21-30 years), they were 39 patients (49%). Spontaneous healing occurred in 69 cases (82%), persistent dry perforation in 8 cases (9.5%), and 7 cases (8.5%) ended with chronic suppurative otitis media. Fifty-six cases (81%) got complete healing within six weeks. All cases due to fractures of temporal bone got spontaneous healing (100%), then perforation by foreign body and instrumentation (89%), ear syringing, and hand slap was equal (88%), then due to ear suction (80%), and the lower incidence in blast injury were (75%). Healing of posterior and anterior perforations about equal (92%), (91%) respectively, then kidney shape perforation (85%), but none of 7 cases of subtotal perforations healed spontaneously.Conclusion: Conservative care for traumatic perforations of the tympanic membrane gives excellent chance for spontaneous healing. The factors affecting spontaneous healing include, large size perforations, ear infections, type of trauma, and Eustachian tube dysfunction.Keywords: Traumatic perforation; tympanic membrane; spontaneous healing.