Ear Conditions Flashcards
What is a pinna haematoma
Haematoma between the auricular cartilage and the overlying perichondrium
Cause of pinna haematoma
Injury from trauma where shearing forces are applied to the auricle, which tears the blood vessels
Common sports to suffer from pinna haematoma
Rugby and boxing
Complications of pinna haematoma
Can pull the perichondrium away from the ear which is the main blood supply, causing necrosis of the cartilage
What happens to the shape of the ear if the cartilage looses blood supply
Gives a ‘califlour’ shaped ear.
Management of pinna haematomas
Aspiration with Abx cover
What is haemotympanum
Presence of blood in the middle ear cavity and ecchymosis of the TM
Symptoms of haemotympanum
CSF coming from ear or nose, dizzy, bruising, facial weakness, difficult with hearing, seeing or smelling
Cause of haemotympanum
Temporal bone fracture, head trauma, therapeutic nasal packing, epistaxis, clotting disorders
Management of haemotympanum
Manage head injury, assess VII nerve, maybe use Abx for cover but require review
What is tympanosclerosis
Scarring of the middle ear leading to conductive hearing loss.
Cause of tympanosclerosis
Recurrent chronic inflammation of middle ear
What is a cholesteatoma
‘Skin in the wrong place’. A ball of skin trapped in the middle ear
What happens in a cholesteatoma
Debris collects and keratin is stuck there. Erodes into middle ear and stays there. Grows and destroys the srtuctures inside middle ear.
Cause of cholesteatoma
Pressure in the middle ear causing ear drum to be sucked in
