Foreign body in the external auditory canal

Anatomy of the ear

The foreign body acts as a mechanical obstacle. In the extreme case, the external auditory canal is completely blocked, resulting in a conductive hearing loss.

the bodies are usually found in the cartilaginous part;
inert bodies may not cause problems and may remain in the ear for many years;
peas, bread etc. also swell and cause pain and dermatitis;
due to its aggressive chemical action, garlic can cause necrosis of the skin of the ear canal and ear drum, osteomyelitis of bones or purulent mesotitis and labyrinthitis.

Foreign body types[edit | edit source]

Cerumen obturans:
- a yellowish-brown mass composed of the secretion of ceruminous glands, desquamated epithelia, and dust;
- endogenously formed;
- by mechanically cleaning the ear canal, sebum is pushed into its bony part → it dries and hardens there .
Living foreign bodies:
- insects etc.;
- makes acoustic and painful sensations;
- the best self-help - drowning the creature with water, oil, cologne, etc.
Inanimate foreign bodies:
- most common;
- found mainly in children – beads, small parts of toys, seeds, peas, etc.;
- also for the mentally ill - efforts to prevent hallucinations etc. (often bread).

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

We determine the diagnosis mainly from the anamnesis and otomicroscopic examination.

Therapy[edit | edit source]

Removal of the foreign body belongs to ear doctors!
especially children can be quite restless during medical procedures → the ear canal can be damaged;
bodies are removed with hooks, tweezers or with the help of a microscope, if the patient does not cooperate under general anesthesia;
the ear canal should not be rinsed if a perforation of the eardrum is suspected (by vigorous rinsing we can cause this perforation ourselves!);
we drain the swollen bodies with alcohol;
in rare cases, we also resort to surgical solutions (eg when the body penetrates the middle ear).