Perforation of the tympanic membrane, the treatment of which should be mandatory in most cases, causes both the middle and the inner ear to lose their original protection. This condition can be complicated by frequent inflammatory diseases. If you do not take care of the restoration of the barrier function of the membrane in a timely manner, the infection can deepen and spread through the intracranial space, provoking irreversible complications. If you have a hole in the ear membrane, only a doctor should understand how to treat this damage. Amateur performance in this case is inappropriate and even dangerous.
First aid
What to do if the eardrum has burst? The victim should be extremely careful in the first place. It is categorically impossible to engage in rinsing the ear, removing blood clots from the ear cavity, as well as drying it or cooling it by applying cold objects. First aid is reduced to placing a sterile ball of cotton wool or turunda (they must be dry) into the external ear canal, bandaging the ear and transporting a person to a nearby clinic or hospital.
If the pain syndrome is too severe, you can take diclofenac (1 tablet 0.05 grams) or paracetamol (0.5 grams).
When transporting the victim, you need to protect him from shaking. In addition, he should not be thrown back and tilted to any side of his head. And remember: if the eardrum has burst, treatment should be prescribed as soon as possible to avoid complications.
Treatment methods
In more than 50% of all cases of rupture of the tympanic membrane, no treatment is required. It is much faster and easier to heal gap-shaped ruptures that occupy less than 25% of the membrane area. So, if the eardrum in the ear burst in such a simple form, what should the victim do? He was prescribed complete rest, sharply limiting any manipulations in the external ear canal. In particular, it is forbidden to process it with cotton swabs and instill any drops. The last event can even be harmful. Indeed, through the hole formed as a result of the injury, the medicine in the drops will enter the middle ear and disrupt its structure.
If a foreign body gets in
Treatment of perforation of the tympanic membrane, if it is not complicated by any pathological process, does not require the intervention of a surgeon. First, the doctor removes a foreign body from the ear canal. Then he inserts an antiseptic swab made of cotton wool soaked in rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Such a thorough treatment of the damaged area makes it possible to prevent infection from entering the auditory tube.
If damage to the membrane by a foreign body is complicated by a disease of the ear, it is treated according to the same technique as for acute otitis media.
Myringoplasty
If, for example, there is a damage to the eardrum with a cotton swab, the treatment will be carried out operatively. This operation is called myringoplasty. In the process of such an intervention, the surgeon cuts out a small fragment of the fascia (connective tissue membrane) of the temporal muscle from the area above the patient's ear. It will be needed in order to close the damaged section of the membrane with it.
After this manipulation, the doctor puts microinstruments into the external ear canal, the work of which is controlled by a special microscope. With these tools, the doctor slightly lifts the torn membrane, substitutes a pre-cut "patch" to the place of rupture and reliably sews it using threads that self-destruct over time. Reklama: LPG masažas, kriolipolizė, biorevitalizacija, depiliacija lazeriu Vilniuje patrauklia kaina Oblaka salone
After the completion of the surgical intervention, the external ear canal is tamponed with a turunda with antibacterial impregnation. The patient is discharged with an ear bandage, which is allowed to be removed no earlier than after 7 days.
Sutures usually self-liquidate after about 2-3 weeks. This period is just enough to fully heal the wound. The hole in the eardrum, which has been successfully treated, will close completely. In the first couple of days of the postoperative period, minor ear pains and some discomfort are possible.
In order not to damage the membrane a second time, it is forbidden to sneeze, tightly closing your mouth, and take sharp breaths with your nose.
Ossiculoplasty
If there is a rupture of the tympanic membrane from a blow, treatment involves ossiculoplasty. This is the second stage after tympanoplasty (operations to restore the integrity of the membrane). Such surgical intervention is mainly aimed at the reconstruction of the damaged sound transmission system. The surgeon uses instruments to restore the ossicular chain, replacing the damaged areas with implants.
The operation takes place under local anesthesia. In the first few days of the postoperative period, the patient must strictly adhere to the prescribed bed rest. This is very important for proper healing.
Treatment with folk remedies
After the diagnosis of "perforation of the tympanic membrane" established by the otolaryngologist, treatment with folk remedies is permissible. However, it is recommended that you always consult a doctor on this matter. After all, each case is individual, and the main thing is not to harm yourself.
If the victim is diagnosed with otitis media with perforation of the tympanic membrane, propolis treatment will be one of the most successful options. After the end of the course of such treatment, hearing acuity significantly increases, tinnitus decreases and even disappears altogether.
For treatment with propolis, its 30-40% alcohol tincture is used, combined with vegetable (preferably olive) oil in a ratio of 1: 4. Alcohol-oil emulsion should be shaken well before each use. Turundas are impregnated with it and inserted into the ear canals.
It is necessary to leave turundas in the ears for 36 hours for adults and for 10-12 hours for children over 5 years old. It is recommended to do this every time before bed. The course of treatment consists of 10 to 12 such procedures. A noticeable increase in hearing is usually noted in 4-6 procedures.
Important: propolis is capable of provoking allergic reactions in those who have a predisposition to allergies to bee products.
Ear Swab Impregnation Recipes
What to do if the eardrum is damaged, you have already visited the doctor and he gave the go-ahead for the use of folk methods? Of course, tampons with special medicinal impregnations are needed.
To speed up membrane recovery, soak a sterile cotton swab with olive oil and place it in your ear, then cover it with a warm cloth and attach a cloth bag with pre-warmed bran on top. In addition, it is recommended to ingest an infusion of rose hips at room temperature or a decoction of medicinal chamomile flowers of low concentration.
Before going to bed, you can put a cotton swab soaked in onion or calendula juice in your ear and leave it overnight.
As an alternative option for severe pain syndrome, you can use the leaves of fragrant pelargonium. Two or three of these leaves you need to wrinkle a little with your fingers so that they let the juice out, then wrap them in a sterile bandage and insert such tampons into the ear canal.
Let's summarize
When the tympanic membrane is damaged, treatment should be started immediately. The prognosis is very favorable if your reaction to ear pain after an accidental injury is adequate and as fast as possible. In this case it is impossible to hesitate. It is recommended to immediately seek advice from a traumatologist or an otolaryngologist (your choice - to whom you will get access faster, go to that).
Minor injuries are characterized by the most favorable prognosis: more than half of all cases are self-healing with complete recovery of the victim.
If the injury turns out to be significant, then after healing, a scar forms at the site of the rupture and calcium salts are deposited. In this case, unfortunately, there is no hope for a complete recovery. Patients complain of a steady decline in the quality of hearing. The same not very favorable prognosis is typical for non-healing perforation.
If as a result of an injury, not only the membrane is damaged, but also the ossicles, the so-called adhesive otitis media can develop, which also leads to hearing loss.
So, if your eardrum has burst, you already know what to do. The main thing is not to delay treatment and contact experienced specialists.
