What Are the Symptoms of a Damaged Tympanic Membrane?

Drum membrane injury is often caused by eardrum perforation or rupture due to factors such as careless ear picking, improper ear treatment, and foreign objects entering the ear. This may lead to symptoms such as ear pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus, accompanied by varying degrees of vertigo. The harm of drum membrane injury is significant, and prompt medical attention in a reputable hospital is necessary to avoid sustained harm when similar symptoms occur.

1. Ear pain usually does not last long.

2. For those with minor eardrum perforation, hearing loss may not be significant. However, for those with larger perforations or combined ossicular injuries, there may be significant conductive hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss, often dominated by sensorineural hearing loss, may occur in cases with inner ear damage.

3. Tinnitus and vertigo are usually temporary.

4. Eardrum perforation may cause bleeding, with irregular tears and bloodstains or blood clots on the edges or external auditory canal walls. Mechanical contusions often occur in the posterior half, pressure contusions in the anteroinferior region, and tearing contusions originating in the superior region.

The prognosis of drum membrane trauma depends on whether the perforation is infected, thus infection prevention is crucial. Small tears or perforations in the drum membrane often heal spontaneously without affecting function. However, secondary infection can lead to otorrhea, enlargement of the perforation, and worsening hearing loss. Middle ear infections can also spread to the mastoid process, causing various complications.

1. Prevent Infection: The external auditory canal is normally colonized with bacteria, therefore flushing and medication are strictly prohibited to prevent secondary middle ear infection. Vigorous nose blowing is also disallowed to prevent infection from the nasopharynx. Swimming is prohibited until the perforation heals, and water should be prevented from entering during bathing. Avoiding colds and taking antibiotics systemically are also recommended.

2. Repairing Perforation: In the absence of infection, 85% to 90% of traumatic perforations heal spontaneously. However, early repair can prevent infection, improve symptoms, and accelerate healing. The simplest method is to clean and disinfect the external auditory canal, then apply a sterile cotton disc impregnated with 2% phenol glycerin to the perforation. The cotton disc should be left in place for at least a week, as the fresh wound edges of the perforation generally heal.

3. Surgical Treatment: If the perforation has not healed within four weeks of the injury, 10% trichloroacetic acid can be applied to the edges of the perforation, followed by the application of a small piece of gelatin sponge impregnated with the patient's blood as a scaffold to facilitate healing. For larger perforations or failed attempts with the above methods, tympanoplasty may be performed. If ossicular dislocation is suspected, tympanic cavity exploration and tympanic cavity reconstruction may be considered.