Ear Injury: Symptoms, Treatment, and Consequences

In the category that is presented in this article, a large number of damage can be attributed. Ear injuries are any negative impact of external factors on the auditory organ. They are divided into several varieties with their manifestations, diagnostic methods and standard treatment regimens. We will try to present this variety succinctly, paying attention to important details.

ICD damage classifications

Ear injuries are not uncommon in modern reality. This is primarily due to the vulnerability of the outer part of the organ. What matters is the attitude of the person to his health and personal safety. It should be noted that a number of injuries can lead to very serious consequences - surgical removal of the external part, complete or partial hearing loss.

Ear injuries (according to the ICD - International Classifier of Diseases) are primarily customary to divide into varieties according to the location of the damage:

• inner ear;
• middle ear;
• the outer ear.

It must be said that injuries to the outer ear have the least negative consequences for life and health than injuries to the inner and middle ones. The latter are most often accompanied by a traumatic brain injury or fracture of the cranial bones.

The inner and middle ear are often injured at the same time. Such damage is divided into two types:

• Direct. As a rule, this is damage by a pointed object inserted into the ear canal.
• Indirect. The cause may be a severe blow to the head or a pressure drop.

Adverse Classification

The next gradation is by the type of external influence. The following damage to the auditory organ is noted here:

• Bruises, trauma to a blunt object.
• Injuries - cuts, lacerations and stabs.
• Burns - thermal and chemical.
• The ingress of a foreign object into the ear canal.
• Frostbite.
• Bar damage caused by pressure drop.
• Acoustic injuries of the ear - due to the impact of super-strong sound on the eardrum.
• Vibration damage. Caused by strong air vibrations, which are triggered, for example, by some large production units.
• Actinotrauma. Damage due to exposure to radiation.

For each of the groups of injuries according to the ICD, a certain symptomatology, treatment methods and diagnostics are characteristic. Therefore, we consider these categories in more detail below.

Damage to the outer ear

The most common ear injury. This includes such damage:

• Mechanical. Animal bites, bruises, injuries.
• Thermal. Frostbite and burns.
• Chemical. Hazardous, corrosive substances getting on the auricle.

Direct lesions are more rare:

• Hit. Including a strong blow to the lower jaw.
• Foreign body contact.
• Knife, gunshot, shrapnel wound.
• Burn by steam, caustic liquid, chemical.

The consequences of such negative impacts are as follows:

• Damage to the cartilage of the auricle. This leads to its partial or complete separation.
• The formation of a hematoma at the site of exposure.
• Blood clots under the outer cartilage.
• Loss of a healthy skin tone, anatomically correct shape.
• Suppuration.
• Infection
• The death of damaged tissue.

Symptoms of external ear damage

Each type of ear injury will have its own symptomatology.

Damage to a blunt object:

• Cartilage deformity.
• Redness.
• Edema.
• The development of a hematoma with serious injury.

Wound:

• Visually noticeable wound.
• The discovery of bleeding.
• Hearing impairment.
• Visible blood clots on the auricle, in the ear canal.
• Deformation of the outer part of the organ.

Frostbite:

• The initial stage is pale skin.
• The second stage is redness of the skin.
• The last stage is the unnatural “dead” skin color.

Burn:

• Redness of the skin.
• Exfoliation of the upper skin.
• Blisters.
• In severe form - carbonization of the tissue.
• With a chemical burn, the boundaries of the lesion are clearly visible.

All forms of damage are characterized by pain, partial hearing loss.

Diagnosis of external ear damage

As a rule, a visual examination of the victim is enough for a specialist to determine the injury to the outer ear. In some cases, a more detailed examination is required in order to make sure that other parts of the organ or neighboring tissues are not injured. The following procedures are carried out:

• Hearing test.
• Otoscopy (or microotoscopy).
• X-ray examination of the lower jaw joint.
• X-ray of the temporal zone.
• Examination of the vestibular organ (inner ear).
• Endoscopy for damage to the ear canal. Determines whether blood clots, foreign bodies are present in it.

If a concussion accompanies the injury, then a neurologist should be consulted.

Treatment of external ear damage

An ear injury has occurred. What to do? If the injury is not deep, then first aid should be provided to the victim:

1. A cut or scratch is treated with iodine, an alcohol solution, hydrogen peroxide.
2. A sterile dressing is applied to the damaged area.

For other injuries, they do this:

• Severe bruise. It is necessary to consult a specialist - there is a risk of developing a hematoma. When it is opened, infection is possible, which leads to inflammation in the ear canal, cartilage.
• Deep wounds. Surgical intervention, suturing required.
• Detachment of the auricle. The organ is wrapped with sterile material, placed in a jar of ice. Sew the sink back within 8 hours.

Damage to the inner ear

Injuries to the inner ear are considered the most dangerous of all, as they are accompanied by damage to the skull, its base. Two types of damage can be distinguished here:

• Transverse fissure of the skull. Often she is accompanied by an ear membrane injury. It leads to serious hearing problems, up to complete deafness. With such injuries, cerebrospinal fluid - cerebrospinal fluid - can flow out through the ear canal.
• Longitudinal crack of the skull. Also passes close to the wall of the tympanic membrane, it can manifest as hemorrhage. If the tympanic part of the facial canal is damaged, then the movement of facial muscles is impaired. But the vestibular function does not suffer with such an injury. Most often, the damage makes itself felt by the release of bloody clots from the ear canal.

Longitudinal cracks in the medical environment have a more favorable prognosis than transverse ones. The latter may result in the following consequences for the patient:

• Paralysis of the facial muscles.
• Violation of the functions of the vestibular apparatus.
• Facial paresis.
• The so-called "vestibular attack" on the intermediate nerve. It is fraught with impaired function of taste buds.

Separately, acoustic ear injuries stand out here. They, in turn, are divided into two categories:

• Spicy. Extremely powerful sound affecting the human ear, even for a short period of time, can lead to serious consequences. There is hemorrhage, temporary hearing loss. However, after resorption of the hematoma, auditory functions are restored.
• Chronic Long-term impact on the membrane of super-strong sound. Most often observed in a production environment. Receptors in humans are constantly in a state of overwork, which leads to the further development of hearing loss.

Thermal damage to the inner ear is also a negative effect - exposure to hot steam or water. Further, the opening of hemorrhage (due to bursting vessels), rupture of the tympanic membrane is possible. In rare cases, its complete destruction occurs.

Injuries to the inner ear also occur. Most often, they are associated with an attempt to clean the ear canal with a pointed object from sulfur. It may be a consequence of a medical error - an incorrectly performed operation on the middle ear.

Symptoms of Inner Ear Damage

The symptoms of ear trauma here are interrupted by the manifestation of the consequences of craniocerebral injury. The victim notes the following:

• Noise in the damaged ear, and in both organs.
• Dizziness. Often such strength that a person cannot stay on his feet. It seems to him that the world around him revolves.
• Hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss).
• Nystagmus.
• Nausea.

Diagnosis of damage to the inner ear

A wide variety of methods cannot be distinguished here. Two are used, but true and accurate - magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.

Injury treatment

Natural recovery without medical intervention is characteristic only for the case of acoustic damage. In case of traumatic brain injury, hospital treatment of an ear injury is indicated. The victim is placed in the department of neurology, neurosurgery. In parallel, an otolaryngologist assists him.

When the patient is stabilized, a surgical operation is performed to restore the normal anatomical structures of the inner ear. As for auditory function, in some cases, hearing replacement is required.

Middle ear injuries

Independent middle ear injuries are a rare occurrence. Most often it suffers, coupled with the inner. The most common cause of damage to the middle ear is the so-called barotrauma. It causes a sharp pressure drop outside and inside the eardrum. It is observed during takeoff / landing of an aircraft, ascent to mountain heights, and a sharp immersion in water.

The consequences of barotrauma, the victim can sometimes eliminate on their own. Strong exhalations with a pinched nose and a fully closed mouth will help restore normal breathing in the ear. However, such "therapy" is contraindicated in patients with acute respiratory viral infections, influenza. When purged, pathogenic microorganisms will enter the Eustachian tube.

Barotrauma can lead to the development of aerootitis (damage to the Eustachian tube), which, incidentally, is a professional disease of pilots. It is characterized by pain in the ear, hearing loss, impaired vestibular function.

The following damage also occurs:

• Eardrum concussion.
• Eardrum rupture. It also happens with a sharp pressure drop and failure to provide first aid for pressure damage.
• Penetrating wound.

If an infection penetrates the wound, then acute otitis media develops.

Symptoms of Middle Ear Damage

The signs of damage are as follows:

• hearing impairment;
• nystagmus - spontaneous rotation of the eyeballs;
• Dizziness
• noise in the head;
• the discovery of bleeding;
• violation of vestibular functions;
• in rare cases, pus is excreted.

Diagnosis of middle ear lesions

The following methods are distinguished:

• audiometry - assessment of visual acuity;
• tuning fork test for the perception of individual tones;
• threshold audiometry;
• radiography;
• tomography of the temporal bones.

Treatment of middle ear lesions

The eardrum is characterized by enhanced regeneration - perforation is completely delayed in 1.5 months. If this does not happen, then she is "helped" by cauterization of the edges, laser or plastic microoperation.

Wounds are treated with antiseptics. The removal of accumulated pus, blood (in rare cases, surgically), the use of antibiotics is prescribed. In severe injuries, hearing aids are necessary.

A lot of damage to the ear is noted, as we see from the classification. Each species is distinguished by a special diagnosis suitable for it, treatment methods.