Clinical Outcome and Etiologies of Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Background: Trauma remains a regular occurrence relating to activities and lifestyle of humans and it can affect any part of the body. The ear is located within the cranio-facial skeleton which is exposed to environmental trauma that can occur as blunt injuries like contusion, concussion, decompression, and penetrating injuries as fractures. Objective: To assess the clinical outcome and etiologies of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Department of ENT, TMSS Medical College &Rafatullah Community Hospital, Bogura, Bangladesh from June to December 2022. Total 50 patients included who presented to outpatient department of TMSS. Patients willing to be included in study and patients of all age group and gender with traumatic TM perforation were included in the study. Those patients with non-traumatic TM perforation as well as the traumatic perforation of TM with severe head injury, unconscious patients or patients with polytrauma were excluded from the study. Results: Total Fifty (50) patients who presented to the outpatient department of ENT and casualty of private chamber included in the study. Out of which, 13 patients were males (26.0%) and 37 were females (74.0%). Most of the patients fell under 20-30 age group (n=23 [46.0%]). Mean age group was 33.1 years and 74.0% were males. Ear pain was the commonest symptom with accidental trauma being the most common cause. 70% of them had left TM perforation and poster inferior quadrant was mostly involved. Conclusions: Traumatic TM perforation is commonly seen in young adults following accidental trauma and assault. Earache, sudden hearing loss and tinnitus are the common symptoms. Most of the cases heal spontaneously with conservative management.