Traumatic tympanic membrane perforation: an overview in a tertiary care centre-Khammam

Abstract

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Aim of the study was to distinguish traumatic tympanic membrane perforation (TTMP) by distribution, etiology and clinical presentation and to assess the prognosis and outcome of treatment and establish masterly inactivity as main treatment modality.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: A prospective observational study was performed on 60 cases of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in the outpatient department of otorhinolaryngology, Mamatha medical college and general hospital, Khammam from October 2019 to March 2021. All the patients came to ENT OPD with the history of trauma to the ear and hearing loss were examined and after obtaining proper history, all the patients underwent ENT clinical examination, oto-endoscopic and audiological evaluation by pure tone audiometry. All the patients diagnosed with traumatic tympanic membrane perforation after obtaining informed written consent were included in the study. All the patients were followed at regular intervals and observations were recorded.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: All patients were evaluated based on oto-endoscopic examination. Age ranges from 20-50 years, mean age of 33.6 years and with a male to female ratio of 1:1.4. Commonest etiology was physical assault (61.66%) followed by self-inflicted injury accounting 20%. Tinnitus (90%) was the common presenting complaint and the perforation spontaneously healing is about 90% patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Traumatic perforation of tympanic membrane is under-reported otologic defect which has a good prognosis if treated at right time with a need to educate people on the consequences and about unskilled removal of wax/foreign body, early identification and apt diagnosis and management.</p>