TYMPANIC MEMBRANE PERFORATIONS

Course overview

TYMPANIC MEMBRANE PERFORATION IS WHEN THERE IS A TEAR IN THE TYMPANIC MEMBRANE LEADING TO A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL AND THE MIDDLE EAR. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY INFECTION, TRAUMA, OR RAPID CHANGES IN PRESSURE LEADING TO SUDDEN OTALGIA, OTORRHEA, TINNITUS, AND VERTIGO. MOST PERFORATIONS RESOLVE SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS; HOWEVER, SOME CAN BECOME CHRONIC AND LEAD TO COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS HEARING LOSS, CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA, CHOLESTEATOMA, AND MASTOIDITIS. THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF TYMPANIC MEMBRANE PERFORATION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.