The human ear has a soft, elastic cartilage that is part of the auricle. This soft component of the cartilaginous tissue protects the human eardrum from any harmful factors and adverse effects.
Despite its rather pliable structure, the ear can still be broken and it happens quite often. Especially widespread such fractures are in the field of sport and contact martial arts. It is worth noting that the word "fracture" in relation to the ear is rather conditional, because there is no bone in the outer ear, and cartilage is broken.
What is an ear fracture?
A fracture of the ear is a damage or a violation of the overall integrity of the bony and cartilaginous walls of the auricle. Regardless of which department of the ear a fracture occurred, it is considered dangerous for humans. This means that the fracture must necessarily be treated.
Fracture of the ear is most common in wrestlers and boxers, who during the intense battle do not notice the damage, as the pain drowns out the adrenaline rush.
This often leads to the appearance of hematoma and complications, since the person was not provided with timely assistance. Doctors often refer to the parents of kids who have received an ear fracture.Children are often injured in active games and inaccuracies. It should be noted that the external fracture of the auricle is a painful injury and is very difficult for the child to bear.
Consequences of ear trauma
Symptoms and signs
The human hearing aid has three sections of the ear - external, internal and average. Trauma can be obtained even with minor bumps in the head and ear area. Most often there are so-called direct injuries. Among them:
- Sports.
- Injury due to an accident.
- Criminal.
Less common are injuries of gunshot character and fractures, as a result of an animal's bite. The main signs of a fracture of the auricle are:
- A pronounced deformation of the auricle. In this case, the ear can acquire an unnatural shape, bend one of the parts of the shell, a visible change in the healthy structure of the cartilage.
- A rupture of the auricle. At the same time, part of the shell may be detached to the end or partially. Most often, such a trauma occurs due to a bite or injury to a sharp object.
- Hematoma. In humans, subcutaneous hemorrhage occurs, and lymphatic accumulation in the ear can also occur, with the deformity of the auricle observed in the affected person.
- Damage to the ear canal. In this case, a person may have a decrease in hearing, bleeding from the ear canal. Also, the victim can feel pain with any movement of the jaw.
The photo shows the consequences of an ear fracture in wrestlers
How to identify a child
The symptomatology of an ear fracture in a child is actually similar to that seen in an adult. An attentive parent will not miss the signs that their child has become restless and constantly touches the damaged place.
In addition, the fracture of the ear in most cases is accompanied by deformation of the shell and the presence of obvious lesions. Often children get fractures for the following reasons:
- exercise;
- active games;
- failed fall;Careless handling of sports equipment.
In fact, there can be many reasons for fractures. They can be the most unexpected and unpredictable. However, barely noticing that the behavior of the child has changed and become restless, a preliminary examination should be made first.
Signs of a fracture in a child look like this:
- redness of the ear, the appearance of a hematoma;
- bruising;
- hearing impairment;
- deformation of cartilage tissue;
- dizziness;
- discharge from the ear canal of fluid or blood;
- painful sensations when moving the jaw.
Having identified the presence of damage, do not need to pull. It should be applied to the injured ear that it is either cold and, if possible, treat the places of rupture with hydrogen peroxide. Only after these simple manipulations must you go to the clinic.
Treatment of
Treatment of an ear fracture involves, first of all, restoring the whole structure of the ear cartilage. This is done through surgical intervention. If the damage was insignificant, the recovery does not take much time and effort. The healing also takes a small amount of time.
If the injury was extensive enough and the patient lost a fragment or an entire part of the auricle, the doctor tries to restore it and sew it back. The main thing is, when getting such a trauma, do not get lost and keep the lost part intact.
For this, it is necessary to take a part of the ear and put it in a clean damp rag or, if possible, overlay it with ice. Within 8-10 hours, the integrity of the ear can easily be restored.
After sewing, the doctor observes the patient for a while to avoid the appearance of tissue necrosis. In addition, the patient is given individual therapy. It includes treating the ear with antiseptics, taking antibiotics, anesthetics and applying physical therapy.
In case of damage to the middle ear, the patient is treated in a hospital. There is a careful treatment of the damaged area and the imposition of a sterile bandage. The doctor performs a revision of the patient's ear to remove the accumulated fluid, blood.
In the future, the patient takes anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics at the rate. Washing the ear in this case is not provided.
Treatment involves the use of antibiotics, diuretics, which can reduce edema and prevent neurological abnormalities.
First aid
First aid for a fracture requires promptness and a clear planning of actions. First, you need to do everything to prevent the panic of the victim. Secondly, it is necessary to assess the scale of the injuries received.
If they are insignificant, since you notice small open wounds and bruises, you should treat them with an antiseptic or any other solution that will allow the infection to be destroyed. To assess the real threat to health, the patient is sent to the doctor for an examination.
If you witness a serious rupture of the auricle or complete loss of the auricle, then the possible consequences of pain shock should be prevented. If the victim has lost consciousness, then it is necessary to bring him to the senses. This can be done with ammonia or a small amount of water. Then, a sterile bandage is applied to the ear, and the detached part is placed in a dry clean rag or jar with ice.
After providing qualified medical care, the victim needs to do everything in order not to injure the broken ear again. So, the patient must observe the rules of cautious sleep, safe rest and work. For the period of treatment, it is better to limit exercise to active physical exercises.
In addition, you can take vitamins and drugs that accelerate the healing of the wound and cartilage. You can also drink tea, brewed on rose hips and chamomile and other herbs, they soothe and help to heal the tissues well.
After complete recovery, the patient is advised to take some time to see the doctor to avoid the possibility of undesirable consequences.
See video how to pump out a liquid from a broken ear:
Complications of
With proper care and treatment for fracture - the prognosis for recovery is favorable. However, the possibility of complications is not excluded.
So, untimely rendering of the help can lead to disability of the person. This includes not only partial and complete hearing loss, but also a number of neurological diseases.
Improper treatment of internal injuries can cause significant harm to health. In some cases, a lethal outcome is possible. It occurs when the infection is neglected, which was not eliminated on time, which caused complications to other parts of the hearing aid and the brain.