A clinical profile of patients with traumatic perforation of tympanic membrane in South Kashmir

In our daily ENT practice we come across patients with traumatic rupture of tympanic membrane secondary to either blunt (slap, explosion, rapid descent of aeroplane, deep water diving) or penetrating (ear buds, pencils, syringing for foreign body or wax removal) trauma. The tympanic membrane heals spontaneously in 80% of cases as per most studies.1 The masterly wait and watch policy for 3 months unnecessarily exposes the patients to symptoms of tinnitus, ear block and life style modifications like keeping the ear dry. If we can identify the causes of non healing of traumatic perforation we can intervene surgically at an earlier stage and reduce the morbidity. This paper aims to study various etiologies of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation; evaluate the factors involved in healing of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation; and identify the patients who are unlikely to benefit from conservative management so that early surgical intervention may be recommended.