TY - JOUR
T1 - Metallic foreign body adjacent to the round window
T2 - A rare cause for chronic tympanic membrane perforation with hearing loss
AU - Leedman, Samuel Robert
AU - Kuthubutheen, Jafri
PY - 2021/5/20
Y1 - 2021/5/20
N2 - Welding injuries to the tympanic membrane (TM) or middle ear are rare but can cause significant damage. These injuries occur when a hot spark or molten slag drops directly into the external auditory canal and through the action of gravity (because the ear is upright during such an injury), then risks burning through the TM. This can lead to a multitude of adverse consequences including chronic TM perforation, secondary purulent otorrhoea, facial palsy, taste disturbance, vertigo and hearing loss. We present the case of a welding injury to the right TM, resulting in a chronic perforation and hearing loss. The patient required surgical intervention for removal of the metallic foreign body and repair of the TM. The patient obtained a good surgical result with no sensorineural hearing loss. This is a preventable occupational injury, which can be avoided by use of ear protection and increased awareness of this potential risk.
AB - Welding injuries to the tympanic membrane (TM) or middle ear are rare but can cause significant damage. These injuries occur when a hot spark or molten slag drops directly into the external auditory canal and through the action of gravity (because the ear is upright during such an injury), then risks burning through the TM. This can lead to a multitude of adverse consequences including chronic TM perforation, secondary purulent otorrhoea, facial palsy, taste disturbance, vertigo and hearing loss. We present the case of a welding injury to the right TM, resulting in a chronic perforation and hearing loss. The patient required surgical intervention for removal of the metallic foreign body and repair of the TM. The patient obtained a good surgical result with no sensorineural hearing loss. This is a preventable occupational injury, which can be avoided by use of ear protection and increased awareness of this potential risk.
KW - ear
KW - nose and throat/otolaryngology
KW - otolaryngology / ENT
KW - surgery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106500325&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bcr-2020-240106
DO - 10.1136/bcr-2020-240106
M3 - Article
C2 - 34016627
AN - SCOPUS:85106500325
SN - 1757-790X
VL - 14
JO - BMJ Case Reports
JF - BMJ Case Reports
IS - 5
M1 - e240106
ER -