The tympanic membrane plays an important role in the proper and full functioning of the human hearing aid. Even slight damage to this part of the ear can significantly reduce not only the quality of audibility, but also provoke the development of inflammation, leading to otitis with possible complications.
Timely treatment when receiving any type of damage to the membrane, will safely endure the trauma and maintain the health of the hearing.
Causes of eardrum damage
Any damage to the tympanic membrane can lead to its destruction, rupture or slight damage, which, one way or another, will affect the hearing condition of the victim. There are an incalculable number of causes that can lead to different kinds of injuries. Here are just some of them:
- damage with the help of a foreign body;
- incorrect removal of the ear plug with a cotton swab;
- traumatic brain injury;
- sharp pressure drop in the ear canal;
- sharp sound( loud music, unexpected kiss in the ear);
- ear burn;
- mechanical damage resulting from manufacturing;
- ingestion of the inside of the ear passage of chemicals;
- fragmentation damage;
- bullet wound.
Each type of injury requires first aid and primary wound treatment. So, after rendering all necessary measures, the victim necessarily goes to the doctor. Independently treatment can lead to complications in the first days after getting injured.
Symptoms of
Some injuries are unimportant and the injured person does not always find it necessary to visit the doctor. There are cases when small injuries of the tympanic membrane have passed practically without a trace. However, in other cases, rupture, damage is characterized by such symptoms:
- sharp and sharp pain in the ear canal;
- sharp decrease in hearing quality;
- complete absence of hearing;
- aching sensations inside the ear canal;
- ear congestion;
- selection;
- appearance of a small amount of blood.
In some cases, the damage to the tympanic membrane can be so severe that from the pain people lose consciousness.
Diagnostics
The traumatologist mainly deals with the diagnosis of the injuries of the tympanic membrane. Already later, the lor is connected to this process and makes the necessary assignments.
Diagnostics includes several stages. Each of them is important. If you lose sight of some of the details, then the treatment can be labeled incorrectly. This, in turn, will prolong treatment and complicate the process of recovery.
Collecting an anamnesis
Collecting information from a patient allows you to establish the place, time and circumstances under which the eardrum ruptured. Information from the patient greatly simplifies the appointment of treatment and the provision of all the necessary assistance.
The patient is required to provide a detailed description of all the details in which injury occurred. It describes the symptoms, feelings and health at the time of being in the doctor's office.
Exterior examination and palpation
After the medical history is collected, the physician begins the examination. He assesses the degree of damage to the auricle and the presence of secretions from the ear canal. Also, the degree of hearing loss is checked.
Palpation reveals the presence of bruises and bruises, if the damage to the tympanic membrane is due to mechanical trauma.
Otoscopy
Allows more careful examination of the ear canal for tears, injuries and discharge. Using the otoscope, the doctor reveals the nature of the injuries. Thus, with minor damages, otoscopy can detect damage to the vessels of the tympanic membrane.
In more serious injuries, a rupture and the appearance of a perforation hole are observed inside. Otoscopy helps to detect hematoma in the tympanum and hyperemia of the mucosa.
The illustration shows how the damaged eardrum
looks. Laboratory Diagnostics
In some cases, when the eardrum ruptures, a general blood test and examination of the exudate for the presence of bacteria are assigned. Such measures allow to detect the presence of the inflammatory process and to prevent it in time.
Obtaining the results of the analysis helps to accurately identify the type of pathogen and prescribe the necessary course of antibiotics to eliminate it.
Computed tomography
In some cases, ENT can send a patient to a CT scan. Such a procedure is rarely necessary. It is prescribed for extensive injuries of the skull. It allows you to detail and identify damage to the temporal bones of the middle and inner ear.
Computed tomography is a modern and universal way of diagnosing. It allows you to quickly and effectively identify the damage inside and in an accessible way to demonstrate the results on your computer monitor.
Treatment
Treatment for rupture or trauma of the tympanic membrane is assigned exclusively individually, in most cases it can take place at home. Under standard circumstances, it is a series of activities in which the tympanic membrane is successfully restored and no longer disturb the injured person.
However, it is not uncommon for a patient to prescribe a therapy that will include taking medication and physiotherapy.
First aid
The first help in case of damage to the eardrum can be not only by a nearby person at the time of the accident, but also the victim himself, provided that the damage does not threaten his life.
Antibiotic therapy
After visiting the hospital for the injured and after taking a number of necessary measures that determine the degree of damage, the victim receives appointments. Most often they mean the appointment of a course of antibiotics and treatment of the damaged ear with antiseptic substances.
| Product name | Usage |
|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | For adults and children over 10 years old, the drug is administered orally 0.5-1.0 g three times daily. children aged 5 to 10 years are prescribed 0.25 g three times a day. Children aged 2 to 5 years are prescribed 0.12 g three times a day. Children under two years of age are prescribed 20 mg per kilogram of body weight divided into three doses. |
| Lincomycin | The drug should be taken orally 0.5 g three times a day one hour before meals or two hours after eating. |
| Spiramycin | Adults need to take one tablet( 3 million IU) inside - once a day. |
| Ciprofloxacin | Take the drug one tablet, 0.25-0.5 grams orally, twice a day. |
| Azithromycin | The drug should be taken orally, once a day an hour before meals or two hours after eating. Adults appoint 0.5 g on the first day of admission, the loan dose is reduced to 0.25 g from the second to the fifth day. Children are prescribed antibiotic taking into account the body weight. If a child weighing more than ten kilograms, he is prescribed 10 ml.per kilogram of body weight on the first day of intake and 5 ml.per kilogram of body weight in the next four days. |
| Fugentin | Adults need to dig in 2-5 drops in the external auditory meatus three times a day. Children antibiotic instill 1-2 drops three times a day. |
| Cipromed | Ear drops( 0.3%) should be instilled in 5 drops in the external ear canal three times a day. |
| Norfloxacin | Antibiotic is instilled into the external auditory meatus by 1-2 drops four times a day. If necessary, on the first day of taking the drug, drop 1-2 drops every two hours. |
Antibiotics are necessary to eliminate the inflammatory process. In the presence of suppuration and abundant discharge of fluid from the ear, the doctor also prescribes drugs aimed at suppressing the development of microorganisms.
Vasodilators
This type of medication is prescribed in the presence of otitis media. They can reduce the swelling of the mucosa in the opening of the auditory tube.
| Product name | How to use |
|---|---|
| Naphthyzin | Adults should be instilled by 1-3 drops( 0.1%) in each nasal passage 3-4 times a day, not more than a week. Children 2-5 years instilled 1-2 drops of the drug( 0.05%) in the nasal passage. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day for not more than a week. |
| Sanorin | Adults should be instilled by 1-3 drops( 0.1%) in each nasal passage 3-4 times a day, not more than a week. Children 2-5 years instilled 1-2 drops of the drug( 0.05%) in the nasal passage. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day for not more than a week. |
| Galazoline | Adults should be instilled by 1-3 drops( 0.1%) in each nasal passage 3-4 times a day, not more than a week. Children 2-5 years instilled 1-2 drops of the drug( 0.05%) in the nasal passage. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day for not more than a week. |
| Sanorin | Adults should be instilled by 1-3 drops( 0.1%) in each nasal passage 3-4 times a day, not more than a week. Children 2-5 years instilled 1-2 drops of the drug( 0.05%) in the nasal passage. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day for not more than a week. |
| Tizin | Adults should be instilled by 1-3 drops( 0.1%) in each nasal passage 3-4 times a day, not more than a week. Children 2-5 years instilled 1-2 drops of the drug( 0.05%) in the nasal passage. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day for not more than a week. |
Admission of these funds helps the victim minimize the process of blowing and involuntary ingestion to a minimum during the treatment period.
Mucolytic agents
Assigned to restore a person's hearing function. Also appropriate for their appointment with the accumulation of a large amount of pus inside the passage. To facilitate his departure without particularly uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations, the doctor prescribes a course of mucolytic drugs.
| Product name | Application |
|---|---|
| ACS | Adults and children over 14 years of age should take 1 tablet( 200 mg) 2-3 times a day. For children 100 mg of the drug 3 times a day. The tablet is dissolved in 100 ml.water. |
| Fluimucil | Adults and children over 14 years of age should take 1 tablet( 200 mg) 2-3 times a day. For children 100 mg of the drug 3 times a day. The tablet is dissolved in 100 ml.water. |
Thus, mucolytics reduce hypersecretion and mucosal edema, which facilitates the rapid escape of foreign matter from the auditory tube.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Perform simultaneously the role of an anesthetic drug and a means that can remove the acute inflammatory process. Such medications are prescribed quite rarely, and only with serious injuries of the tympanic membrane.
| Product name | How to use |
|---|---|
| Phenazone | on four drops 2-3 times a day for not more than ten days |
| Otypax | Bury in the ear 2-3 times a day for four drops.no longer than ten days |
| The otinum | 3-4 drops in the ear canal, three times a day. Not more than ten days. |
Operation
The operation may be prescribed by the attending physician in the event of impairment or injury to the inner ear. The operation is indicated with a sharp deterioration of the hearing, as well as with damage to the auditory ossicles.
Myringoplasty
A simple surgical procedure that allows to restore the integrity of the tympanic membrane without special difficulty, if its independent restoration was not successful. The consequences after the operation are already in two weeks. Throughout this time, the patient may be disturbed by minor discomfort and discomfort.
Ossiculoplasty
Type of operation aimed at restoring hearing. The doctor reconstructs the auditory ossicles, which allows to normalize the entire sound-conducting system. The first days after the operation the patient spends exclusively in bed.
Audiometry
This procedure is rather a diagnostic, a week of treatment. Audiometry allows you to check the severity of hearing. Using a special audiometer device, the doctor examines the degree of hearing loss in the patient. After the results obtained, which are displayed after the procedure on the audiogram, further treatment is thought out.
Because of what may be hearing loss, watch a video where specialists say about it:
Prevention
Preventive measures mean timely treatment of any colds and compliance with all precautionary measures during a flight on an airplane. Also, be careful when cleaning the ears, so as not to damage the eardrum by imprudence. It should be remembered that timely access to a doctor, can solve a lot of health problems.