Ear Injury

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• QHow does an ear injury affect the body?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  How an ear injury affects the body depends on the type of injury. External injuries to the soft flesh of the ear can cause deformity and permanent damage. For example, if a blow is received to the ear that causes swelling, the swelling can be severe enough to cut blood flow to the ear cartilage. If that happens, the cartilage can die and become deformed. This is known as cauliflower ear and is common among boxers, wrestlers, and others who regularly experience blows to the ear.

  Internal injuries to the ear (damage to the ear canal or eardrum) can make a person dizzy, unable to hold their balance, and nauseous. Damage to this part of the ear often affects a person's equilibrium.

• QWhat is the rate of incidence for ear injuries?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Since all ear injuries do not require medical treatment, there is no way to know with certainty the rate of incidence. As many young children get ear injuries from putting things in their ears or from blows to the ears while playing, it is safe to say it is a fairly common occurrence. Additionally, adults have their fair share of ear injuries, for the same reasons as children do and from abrupt changes in air pressure, as experienced during flying or deep sea diving.

• QDo ear injuries affect children differently than adults?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Ear injuries do not affect young children differently than adults. However, children may be more susceptible to this type of injury because they often put things in their ears that they should not. Their smaller ear canals also make it easier for objects to become stuck.

• QWhat causes an ear injury?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  External ear injuries (injuries to the soft fleshy tissue of the ear) may be caused by any force or trauma applied to the ear. These include blows or accidents that cause scratches, bruises, blood clotting, cuts, or swelling of the fleshy tissue. Internal ear injuries (injuries to the ear canal or eardrum) can be caused by sticking things in the ear (a cotton swab, finger, or pencil) or from abrupt changes in pressure, as from flying or deep sea diving. The eardrum also may be ruptured by a blow to the ear, particularly when the ear is wet.

• QWhat are the symptoms of an ear injury?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  For external ear injuries (damage to the soft, fleshy tissue of the ear), symptoms may include cuts, abrasions, bleeding, bruising, or swelling of the skin. For internal injuries (ruptured eardrums, damaged ear canal, items stuck in the ear), symptoms may include pain, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or the sensation of hearing noises. With some internal ear injuries, there also may be blood or clear liquid coming from the ear canal.

• QHow do I manage an ear injury on a daily basis?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  For daily management of external ear injuries, be sure to keep any cuts and abrasions clean and bandaged. Get a tetanus shot, particularly if you have not had one in several years and if dirt entered the wound. Daily care of internal ear injuries will vary based on the cause. If an object got into the ear and has been removed without causing damage, then no daily care is required. If an object ruptured the eardrum, the eardrum typically will repair itself in a few weeks. During those weeks, keep the ear dry, do not clean inside the ears, and try not to blow your nose.

• QWhat increases my risk for an ear injury?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  One means of increasing ear injury risk is by putting things in your ears. Obviously, you should not put sharp objects in your ears, but even cotton swabs can be dangerous. Participating in activities that cause abrupt air pressure changes (flying, deep sea diving) also increase risk, as they put pressure on the eardrum. Playing sports in which blows to the head are common (boxing, wrestling, rugby) also increases risk of ear injury.

• QIs an ear injury serious?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Sometimes ear injuries can be serious. Untreated external ear injuries can lead to deformity. When the fleshy part of the ear receives a blow that causes swelling and hematoma (swelling with an excessive amount of blood), and the hematoma is not drained, then oxygen and blood flow can be cut off from the ear cartilage and lead to a permanently damaged ear. This is known as cauliflower ear and is common among boxers, wrestlers, rugby players, and others who experience frequent blows to the ears.

  Ruptured eardrums cause pain and may require medical treatment. Most of the time, eardrums repair on their own. If the rupture does not heal, a paper patch may be placed over the rupture to stimulate growth over the ruptured part of the eardrum. If the patch does not work, surgery may be needed to repair the rupture.

• QWhat is an ear injury?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Ear injuries include external damage to the soft tissue of the outer ear or internal damage to the eardrum or ear canal of the inner ear. For the outer ear, injuries can include scratches, bruises, blood clotting, cuts, or swelling of the fleshy ear tissue. Internal ear injuries are often the result of unintended, self-inflicted damage done by inserting objects into the ear and may result in a ruptured eardrum. The eardrum also may rupture when subjected to air pressure changes, as from flying or deep sea diving. It also can result from a hard slap to the ear, particularly when the ear is wet.

• QHow is an ear injury diagnosed?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Ear injuries are fairly simple to diagnose as most result from an event, such as a blow to the head, an activity that causes an abrupt change in air pressure, or something being put into the ear canal. If the ear injury is external (damage to the fleshy part of the ear), there will be cuts, abrasions, bleeding, bruising, or swelling of the skin caused by a blow to the ear or some other trauma. If the ear injury is internal (damage to the ear canal or eardrum), you may be able to see the object in the ear, the person may be experiencing pain, nausea, dizziness, ringing ears, or hearing loss. Also, an event such as deep sea diving or flying may have preceded the symptoms.