In the category that is presented in this article, you can include a large number of damage. 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 diversity capaciously, paying attention to important details.
Classification of damage according to the ICD
Ear injuries are not uncommon in today's reality. This is primarily due to the vulnerability of the outer part of the body. The attitude of the person himself to his he alth and personal safety also matters. It should be noted that a number of injuries can lead to very serious consequences - surgical removal of the outer part, complete or partial hearing loss.
Ear injuries (according to the ICD - International Classification of Diseases) are primarily divided into varieties according to the location of the damage:
- inner ear;
- middle ear;
- outer ear.
It must be said that damage to the outer ear has the least negative consequences for life and he alth than injuries to the inner and middle. The latter more oftenare accompanied by a traumatic brain injury or a fracture of the cranial bones.
The inner and middle ear are often injured at the same time. Such damage is divided into two types:
- Straight. As a rule, this is damage by some kind of pointed object inserted into the ear canal.
- Indirect. The cause may be a strong blow to the head or a pressure drop.
Classification by negative impact
The next gradation is according to the type of external influence. The following damage to the auditory organ is noted here:
- Bruises, blunt force trauma.
- Injuries - cuts, lacerations and stab injuries.
- Burns - thermal and chemical.
- A foreign object entering the ear canal.
- Frostbite.
- Pressure damage caused by differential pressure.
- Acoustic ear injuries - due to the impact of super-strong sound on the eardrum.
- Vibration damage. Caused by strong air vibrations, which are started, for example, by some large production units.
- Actinotrauma. Damage caused by exposure to any kind of radiation.
For each of the groups of injuries according to the ICD, a certain symptomatology, methods of treatment and diagnosis are characteristic. Therefore, we will consider these categories in more detail below.
Injuries to the outer ear
The most common ear injury. This includes the following damage:
- Mechanical. Animal bites, bruises, wounds.
- Thermal. Frostbite andburns.
- Chemical. Contact with the auricle of dangerous, caustic substances.
More rarely seen direct damage:
- Strike. Including a strong blow to the lower jaw.
- Foreign body hit.
- Knife, gunshot, shrapnel wound.
- Steam burn, caustic liquid, chemical burn.
The consequences of such negative impacts are as follows:
- Damage to the cartilage of the auricle. This leads to its partial or complete separation.
- Hematoma formation at the site of exposure.
- The entry of blood clots under the outer cartilage.
- Loss of he althy skin tone, anatomically correct shape.
- Suppuration.
- Infection.
- Death of damaged tissue.
Symptoms of damage to the outer ear
Each type of ear injury will have its own symptoms.
Blunt force:
- Cartilage deformity.
- Redness.
- Edema.
- The development of a hematoma in a serious injury.
Injured:
- Visually noticeable wound.
- Opening bleeding.
- Hearing loss.
- Visible blood clots on the auricle, in the ear canal.
- Deformation of the outer part of the organ.
Frostbite:
- Initial stage - pale skin.
- Second stage - reddening of the skin.
- The last stage is an unnatural "dead" skin color.
Burn:
- Redness of the skin.
- Exfoliation of the upper skin.
- Blisters.
- In severe form - charring of 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 damage to the outer ear
As a rule, a visual examination of the victim is enough for a specialist to determine an injury to the outer ear. In some cases, a more detailed examination is required 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 in case of damage to the ear canal. Determines if there are blood clots, foreign bodies in it.
If the injury is accompanied by a concussion, then a neurologist should be consulted.
Treatment of damage to the external ear
There was an ear injury. What to do? If the wound is not deep, then you should independently provide the victim with first aid:
- Cut or scratch treated with iodine, alcohol solution, hydrogen peroxide.
- A sterile dressing is applied to the injured area.
For other injuries do this:
- Severe injury. It is necessary to consult a specialist - there is a risk of developmenthematomas. When it is opened, infection is possible, which leads to inflammation in the ear canal, cartilage tissue.
- Deep wounds. Requires surgery, suturing.
- Tear off the ear. The organ is wrapped in sterile cloth, placed in a jar of ice. Sew the shell back on within 8 hours.
Inner ear damage
Injuries of the inner ear are considered the most dangerous of all, as they are accompanied by damage to the skull, its base. There are two types of damage here:
- Transverse crack of the skull. Often it is accompanied by an injury to the eardrum. Leads to serious hearing problems, up to complete deafness. With such injuries, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can flow through the ear canal.
- Longitudinal crack of the skull. It also passes close to the wall of the tympanic membrane, and may manifest as hemorrhages. 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, damage makes itself felt by the release of blood clots from the ear canal.
Longitudinal fractures in the medical environment have a more favorable prognosis than transverse ones. The latter can 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. Is fraught with impaired functiontaste buds.
Acoustic ear injuries stand out separately here. They, in turn, are divided into two categories:
- Sharp. Extremely powerful sound that affects 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 effect on the eardrum of super-strong sound. Most often observed in industrial conditions. A person's receptors are constantly in a state of overwork, which leads to the further development of hearing loss.
Thermal damage to the inner ear - exposure to hot steam or water - also has a negative effect. Further, it is possible to open a hemorrhage (due to bursting vessels), a rupture of the eardrum. In rare cases, it is completely destroyed.
There are also injuries to the inner ear. Most often they are associated with an attempt to clean the ear canal from sulfur with a pointed object. It may also be the result of a medical error - an incorrectly performed operation on the middle ear.
Inner ear symptoms
Symptoms of an ear injury here are interrupted by the manifestation of the consequences of a craniocerebral injury. The victim notes the following:
- Noise both in the affected ear and in both organs.
- Dizziness. Often so strong that a person cannot stay on his feet. It seems to him thatthe world around him revolves around him.
- Hearing loss (sensory hearing loss).
- Nystagmus.
- Nausea.
Diagnosis of damage to the inner ear
There is no wide variety of methods here. Two are used, but true and accurate - magnetic resonance and computed tomography.
Inner ear injury treatment
Natural recovery without medical intervention is typical only for the case of acoustic damage. With a traumatic brain injury, hospital treatment of an ear injury is indicated. The victim is placed in the department of neurology, neurosurgery. In parallel, he is being assisted by an otolaryngologist.
When the patient's condition stabilizes, a surgical operation is performed to restore the normal anatomical structures of the inner ear. With regard to hearing function, in some cases, hearing aids are required.
Injuries to the middle ear
Self-injuries of the middle ear are quite rare. Most often, it suffers in conjunction with the internal. The most common cause of damage to the middle ear is the so-called barotrauma. It is caused by a sharp pressure drop outside and inside the eardrum. Observed during takeoff / landing of an aircraft, climbing to mountain heights, abrupt immersion in water.
The consequences of barotrauma can sometimes be eliminated by the victim on their own. Strong exhalations with a pinched nose and a completely closed mouth will help restore normal breathing in the ear. However, this "therapy" is contraindicated in patientsSARS, influenza. When blowing into the Eustachian tube, pathogenic microorganisms will enter.
Barotrauma can lead to the development of aerootitis (damage to the Eustachian tube), which, by the way, is an occupational disease of pilots. It is characterized by painful sensations in the ear, hearing loss, impaired vestibular functions.
The following damage also occurs:
- Eardrum concussion.
- Rupture of the eardrum. It also happens with a sharp pressure drop and failure to provide first aid in case of barodamage.
- Penetrating wound.
If an infection enters the wound, then acute otitis media develops.
Symptoms of middle ear damage
Signs of damage are as follows:
- hearing impairment;
- nystagmus - spontaneous rotation of the eyeballs;
- dizziness;
- noise in the head;
- open bleeding;
- violation of vestibular functions;
- in rare cases - discharge of pus.
Diagnosis of middle ear damage
The following methods stand out:
- audiometry - assessment of hearing acuity;
- test with a tuning fork for the perception of individual tones;
- threshold audiometry;
- radiography;
- tomography of the temporal bones.
Middle ear injury treatment
The tympanic membrane is characterized by enhanced regeneration - perforation is completely tightened in 1.5 months. If this does not happen, then she is "helped"cauterization of the edges, laser or plastic micro-operation.
Wounds are treated with antiseptics. Removal of accumulated pus, blood (in rare cases, surgically), antibiotics are prescribed. Serious injuries require hearing aids.
There are a lot of ear injuries, as we see from the classification. Each type is distinguished by a special diagnosis and treatment methods suitable for it.
