TY - JOUR
T1 - Not 'just' a foreign body in the ear canal
AU - Woodley, Niall
AU - Mohd Slim, Mohd Afiq
AU - Tikka, Theofano
AU - Locke, Richard Robert
PY - 2019/4/29
Y1 - 2019/4/29
N2 - Foreign bodies are commonly seen by the Ear, Nose and Throat emergency team with cotton wool being the most common aural foreign body seen in the adult population. Most complications secondary to aural foreign bodies described in the literature are minor and rarely require any surgical intervention. Here, we present two cases with impacted cotton wool as aural foreign bodies which resulted in suppurative labyrinthitis and osteomyelitis causing profound sensorineural hearing. These cases highlight the importance of considering aural foreign bodies in the differential diagnosis in those presenting with unilateral symptoms as significant complications, although rare, can occur, particularly in those with delayed diagnosis.
AB - Foreign bodies are commonly seen by the Ear, Nose and Throat emergency team with cotton wool being the most common aural foreign body seen in the adult population. Most complications secondary to aural foreign bodies described in the literature are minor and rarely require any surgical intervention. Here, we present two cases with impacted cotton wool as aural foreign bodies which resulted in suppurative labyrinthitis and osteomyelitis causing profound sensorineural hearing. These cases highlight the importance of considering aural foreign bodies in the differential diagnosis in those presenting with unilateral symptoms as significant complications, although rare, can occur, particularly in those with delayed diagnosis.
KW - ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology
KW - emergency medicine
KW - general practice/family medicine
KW - otolaryngology / ENT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065079470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bcr-2019-229302
DO - 10.1136/bcr-2019-229302
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85065079470
SN - 1757-790X
VL - 12
JO - BMJ Case Reports
JF - BMJ Case Reports
IS - 4
M1 - e229302
ER -