W13 46 ENT and dentistry Flashcards
What are some otological symptoms (symptoms relating to the ear)?
Hearing loss
Otalgia - pain in the ear
Otorrhea - discharge from the ear
Tinnitus - perception of sound coming from the outside world without external stimulus
Vertigo - hallucination of movement
Facial nerve
What different things can cause otalgia?
Ontological causes (from the ear) - pinna, external auditory meatus, middle ear
Referred pain (from other areas) - from nerves that supply the ear, TMJ
What are chondritis and perichondritis?
Bacterial infection of the auricle - mainly caused by pseudomonas, staph or strep
What is chondritis?
Cartilage inflamed eg from piercings, accidents etc
What is perichondritis?
Occurs after inadequately treated cellulitis of the ear. Affects the perichondrium (layer covering the cartilage). Spread of infection usually.
What happens if the blood supply to the cartilage is cut off and why?
Cartilage only has extrinsic blood supply, so if supply is cut off then causes malformation from devascularisation and necrosis.
What’s the treatment for chondritis and perichondritis? (Otalgia from pinna)
Drain pus, IV antbiotics
What might result from severe cartilage damage?
Cauliflower ear
What is sub-perichondrial haematoma? (otalgia from pinna)
Traumatic disruption of perichondrial blood vessels, strips perichondrium from cartilage. Blood usually accumulates only laterally, unless there is a fracture in the cartilage (which is more dangerous to the vitality of the cartilage).
How do you treat sub-perichondrial haematoma?
Drain haematoma to avoid avascular necrosis of cartilage and cauliflower ear.
What is otitis externa? (Otalgia from external auditory meatus)
Often history of trauma or prolonged water exposure. Usually caused by pseudomonas bacteria.
What is treatment for otitis externa?
Clean debris from ear. Antibiotic drops
What is malignant otitis externa?
Severe infection - not cancer. Occurs in diabetics and other immunosuppressed states. Presents as otitis externa but resistant to treatment and much more painful. Patient develops osteomyelitis of the temporal bone facial nerve palsy and other CN palsies (eg 7-12).
What is treatment for malignant otitis externa?
High dose ciprofloxacin 500mg BD for at least 3 months.
How does wax cause Otalgia of the external auditory meatus?
Nor wax is normal but not in ear canal. Pain is caused by impaction of wax from using earbuds.
How do you treat wax?
Sodium bicarbonate ear drops - more effective than olive oil but can dry out the skin of the external auditory canal which can predispose you to otitis externa
Ear syringing - squirting water down ear canal to push it out
Direct vision removal - micro suction
Not by ear buds!
How does trauma to the EAC occur (Otalgia to EAM)?
Usually by cotton buds, foreign bodies in ear. Biological material (eg peas) can cause skin inflammation and need to come out, however blunt object can stay in for a while without causing issues.
What is the management for trauma to the EAC?
Observe - blood will reabsorb slowly
What is acute otitis media (otalgia from middle ear)?
Acute inflammation of the middle ear cleft.
What causes acute otitis media?
Nearly always preceding URTI.
Strep pneumoniae, H inf, Moraxella Cat - usually organisms living in the oral cavity and nose
Does discharge occur from acute otitis media?
Ear pain but no discharge
(Unless ear drum bursts - usually pain resolves though due to the less pressure)
What is the treatment for acute otitis media?
Antibiotics - amoxicillin