Diseases Of The External Auditory Canal - II

Trauma:

• Causes:

1. Self-inflected: by scratching the canal skin by an ear bud, hairpin.

2. Iatrogenic: unskillful ear wash or instrumentation.

3. Heavy blow on the chin while the mouth is opened ≫ transmitted to the tempro-mandibular joint ≫ fracture of the tympanic bone of the external canal.

4. Corrosive and caustic injuries ≫ may lead to cicatrical stenosis of the external auditory canal ≫ conductive deafness.

5. Accidental trauma with fracture base of skull.

   • Clinical picture:

1. Bloody otorrhea.

2. Laceration is seen by examination.

   • Complications:

Infection ≫ Otitis externa ≫ Stenosis.

• Treatment:

1. Antibiotics .

2. Avoid entry of water into the ear canal during head wash by putting an earplug or a piece of cotton soaked with an ointment.

Category: ENT Notes