Aftermath of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation: Our findings at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

Objectives: To determine the outcome of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in a teaching hospital at Peshawar, Pakistan.

Methods: This prospective observational study was performed in the Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, MTI/LRH, Peshawar, Pakistan from January 2016 to December 2019 after approved from Institutional Research and Ethical Board. All consented patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled. Sample size was calculated 114 using online sample size calculator (OpenEpi). Every patient was evaluated properly, subsequently otoscopy and PTA was performed. Required information was recorded and analyzed using SPSS (version 25).

Results: Out of 114 patients 81 (71.1%) were males and 33(28.9%) were female with male: female ratio of 2.5:1. Patient’s age ranged from 6- 55 years with mean ± SD age of 26.41 ± 9.7 years. Majority of Patients, 46.5%( 53) were in 2nd decade. Amongst the causes slap outnumbered (80, 70.2%), and left ear was involved predominately (67, 58.7%) affecting mainly anterio-inferior quadrant (50, 43.9%). Small size perforation was most common finding (64, 56.1%). Majority of patients (72, 63.2%) presented in a week time and single perforation was the commonest (107, 93.%). Most of traumatic TM perforation got healed spontaneously (97, 85.1%).

Conclusion: It is concluded that spontaneous healing of traumatic membrane perforation occurs in more than 90% cases provided the ear is kept dry and not accompanied by unfavorable conditions.