Abstract

Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane is one of the commonest cause of perforation that is encountered by otolaryngologists. This study was undertaken to study the etiological profile and outcome of traumatic tympanic membrane perforations.
Methods: A total of 60 patients were taken in this study who had perforation of tympanic membrane due to trauma. A detailed history was taken followed by general and ENT examination. Pure tone audiometry was done in all the patients. Tympanic membrane perforations were visualized using otoscope and under examination under microscope was done. A conservative management approach was adopted, except for those with bloody or watery discharge who received oral/systemic antibiotics to prevent infections. Patients were followed up
Results: Most of the affected patients fall in the age group of 31-40 years. Sex ratio(male:female) is 1.73:1. The chief complaints were tinnitus (86.7%) being the most common, ear pain (81.7%),hearing loss(63.3%),aural fullness(43.3%),ear bleed(25%) and vertigo(10%). Etiologically most common cause was assault(36.7%),followed by self ear cleaning(23.3%), road traffic accidents (15%), ,foreign body of the ear(10%),instrumentation (ear syringing and foreign body removal)(10%),fall(3.3%) and blast injuries(1.7%).In 42(70%) left ear was involved and 18(30%) right ear was involved. Among all the patients, spontaneous healing within 3 months was seen in 52(86.7%) patients and no healing with residual perforation was seen in 8(13.3%) of patients, who underwent tympanoplasty at the end of 3 months
Conclusion: Traumatic perforations have a really favourable prognosis rate if they're treated promptly and with the appropriate safeguards.