A Clinical Study of Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Chun, Seong Ho; Lee, Dae Won; Shin, Jong Keun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Traumatic tympanic membrane (TM) perforatons are encountered relatively often in clinical practice. We carried out a retrospective study of TM perforation according to different injury types, age and sex distribution, and relationship between size of perforation, degree of hearing loss and duration of spontaneous healing.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective review was performed on 152 cases of traumatic TM perforation diagnosed in the emergency room from January, 1992 to December, 1997.
RESULTS
There was follow up loss in 109 out of 152 cases. Its incidence was predominant in males, acounting for the ratio of male to female being about 2:1. Injury to the left side was predominant, there being 112 cases (79%), compared to 40 cases (31%) to the right side. Perforation of Grade I was most common, with 86 cases (57%). Among them, with 54 cases (35.5%), antero-inferior perforation constituted about one third of all cases. The mean air-conduction difference was 14.7dB, and showed a tendency to increase as the size of perforation increased. Spontaneous healing rate was 76%, and the mean duration for complete healing was 22.1 days. There was also a tendency for the duration of healing to increase as the size of perforation increased. In the case of complication with otorrhea, there was a tendency for the duration of healing to be shorter.
CONCLUSION
Although traumatic TM perforations have good prognosis, it is necessary to induce patients with profuse explanations for possible complications to visit the out-patient clinic until the wound has healed completely.