DETROIT - The bad news: A study by Henry Ford Hospital showed a direct relationship between the use of a cotton swab and a ruptured eardrum. The good news: The study also showed that in most cases, the tear heals on its own and that surgery is only necessary in severe cases. The study was presented at the recent Spring Joint Otolaryngology Meeting in Chicago.
More than half of patients seen in otolaryngology clinics, regardless of their initial complaint, admit to using cotton swabs to clean their ears, and if the cotton swab is pushed too far into the ear canal, it can cause perforations of the tympanic membrane (TMP), Which may lead to facial paralysis and dizziness.
Patients with a cotton swab injury were divided into two groups: observation and surgery. Successful outcomes were defined as healing of TMP, resolution or improvement of vertigo, tinnitus or facial nerve paralysis, and/or bridging of the airway and orthopedic gap.
A ruptur eardrum can be treat in 1 of 2 methodes, depending on the severity of symptoms. The most common method of treatment is to have the ear piercing monitored by an otolaryngologist because the eardrum often heals on its own within two months. Extra severe cases are treat with operation .
While the study found that most cases of eardrum ruptures heal on their own, neurologic defects, such as facial nerve paralysis, require surgical intervention to repair the eardrum. The surgical intervention proved very successful, with only one patient experiencing mild dizziness but improvement.
Study co-author Michael Seidman, MD, FACS, director of the Division of Ear Surgery and Neurosurgery at Henry Ford Hospital, recommends that instead of cotton swabs, patients should use the following alternatives to clean the inner ear:
Take cold peroxide and hot tap water and mix them evenly. Make sure it's body temperature and gently wash the ear once or twice a month.
Take regular vinegar and water and use four or five drops in the ear once a week.
Visit a doctor who can remove earwax for you.
Try an over-the-counter remedy like Debrox.
Darat and colleagues conclude that appropriate follow-up with a physician for hearing testing after a ruptured eardrum is necessary to ensure that no hearing loss occurs.
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