A ruptured eardrum, also known as a perforated eardrum, occurs when the thin tissue separating the inner ear from the outer ear (the eardrum or tympanic membrane) develops a tear. Common causes include ear infections, severe blows to the ear, improper wax removal, trauma, or foreign objects in the ear canal. Symptoms may include ear pain, discharge from the ear, ringing or whistling sounds, hearing loss, and dizziness. Treatment focuses on keeping the ear clean and dry, using pain medication, and sometimes surgical repair of the eardrum through a procedure called tympanoplasty.

1. Mr. Manikandan.T,
RN., RM., M.Sc(N)., D.C.A .,(Ph.D)
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing,
VMCON, Puducherry.

2. DEFINITION
• Ear drum ruptured in one or both ear

3. CAUSES
• Infection
• Severe blow
• Improper wax removal
• Trauma
• Foreign bodies (cotton tipped applicator, hair
pin, keys)
• High pitch sound

4. CLINICAL FEATURES
• Pain in ear
• Discharge from ear
• Spinning/ whistling sound while sneezing
• Tinnitus
• Hearing loss

5. DIAGNOSIS
• H.C
• P/E
• Otoscopy
• Audiogram
• Webers & Rinnes Test
• Tympanometry

6. MANAGEMENT
• Keep the ear clean & dry
• Warm compress – relieve pain
• Anti inflammatory – pain
• Plug the ear with cotton while showering
• Avoid swimming

7. PREVENTION
• Treat ear infection earlier
• Protect against excessive noise
• Ear protective during air travel

8. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
• Tympanoplasty