External and Middle Ear Trauma Resulting From Ear Impressions

Abstract

When taking an impression of the external ear canal and ear, the audiologist is engaged in an invasive procedure whereby a foreign body is first placed into the ear canal and then removed. There is always an element of risk for significant medical problems when a clinician is performing an invasive procedure. Although some minor patient discomfort and, at times, some slight trauma to the ear canal occur when taking ear impressions, the incidence of significant trauma to the external or middle ear appears to be low. The purpose of this report is to provide some illustrative cases of significant external and middle ear trauma as a result of taking impressions of the external ear. Audiologists are advised to develop and implement an appropriate risk management program for taking ear impressions to reduce the potential risks associated with this procedure to their patients and to their practices. Abbreviations: CIC = completely in the canal, HPD = hearing protection device, OR = operating room, PROS = pressure relief oto-dam system

Complication of Ear Impression: Foreign Body in the Eustachian Tube Eroding the Carotid Canal

“…In case of material penetration into the middle ear, the literature describes different clinical strategies to remove these foreign bodies, ranging from “blind” removal to different surgical approaches. The choice of surgical approach depended on the extent of the foreign body, ranging from tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy or ossiculoplasty to subtotal petrosectomy 1–5 . The presence of material in the entire Eustachian tube led us to perform a drilling of the external auditory canal at its anterior part and then of the anterior part of the Eustachian tube by transcanal approach.…”

“…The temporal bone CT scan is essential to explore the extension of a foreign body in the middle ear and its relationship to the different structures such as the tympanic membrane, the ossicles, the mastoid, and the Eustachian tube 3,5 . A surgical treatment plan can be prepared preoperatively, anticipating intraoperative complications 2 …”

Sử dụng vạt sau tai để Phẫu thuật che phủ khuyết hổng, tái tạo một phần vành tai (Những trường hợp lâm sàng)

“…Chấn thương gây khuyết vành có thể phát sinh từ nhiều nguyên nhân, bao gồm tiếp xúc với hóa chất, tiếp xúc với nhiệt độ cao và các chấn thương đụng độc hoặc gây rách vành tai, tình trạng viêm nhiễm, các khối u ở vành tai [3], [7].…”

Comparison of Cartilage Conduction Hearing Devices Designed by Ear Impression and Computed Tomography

“…This process is considered to be an established method. However, taking an ear impression involves some risks, such as the possibility of external and middle ear trauma or foreign bodies entering the canal and middle ear [1][2][3]. As an alternative method, 2 of 11 three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning was developed [4], which avoids the risks related to taking the ear impression.…”