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Water used to visualize and remove hidden foreign bodies from the external ear canal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Timo Johannes Peltola  and
Rainer Saarento
Timo Johannes Peltola
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital of Mikkeli, Finland.
Rainer Saarento*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital of Mikkeli, Finland.
*
R. Saarento, M.D., D.D.S., Haahkalantie, SF-50500 Mikkeli, Finland.
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Abstract

Small foreign bodies lodged anteriorly in the tympanic sulcus are usually not visible, due to the curve of the external ear canal. Such objects can be seen with the aid of an otomicroscope and micromirror or with an endoscope, and removed by irrigation. If irrigation fails, epithelial migration on the tympanic membrane may remove lodged foreign bodies, although this may take months. Our new method, which uses water to locate small objects lodged in the tympanic sulcus, includes irrigation of the ear, adjustment of the water level to the middle curve of the external ear canal, and use of the water surface as a concave lens, making the tympanic sulcus visible. With otomicroscopy a curved ear probe can then be used to remove lodged foreign bodies from behind the curve.

Keywords

External auditory canalForeign bodiesWater
Type
Short communication
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 106 , Issue 2 , February 1992 , pp. 157 - 158
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1992

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