While free diving in about 20 feet of water my eardrum popped and cold sea water rushed in. Aside from the initial vertigo and a slight loss of hearing my ear feels fine. I rinsed my ear with an alcohol/acetic acid solution to dry it and no discharge is present. Should I get antibiotics to prevent infection or wait to see how it heals up. Also how soon should I expect to dive again and are there any precautions I need to take to keep this from happening again.
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In most cases tympanic membrane ruptures due to trauma, either from a blow to the ear or from barotrauma, will heal spontaneously within a couple of weeks. An indication for emergent consultation with a physician would be significant or prolonged vertigo, severe hearing loss, or persistent discharge from the ear. When the rupture is uncomplicated, avoidance of water in the ear is all that is generally necessary during the healing period. In the absence of obvious infection, topical antibiotic drops or other antiseptic solutions should generally be avoided. It is best to have the ear examined by a physician if a tympanic membrane perforation is suspected even if it seems uncomplicated (ie no vertigo, discharge, nor severe hearing loss). A follow-up examination to document proper healing is also indicated. It is uncommon, but occasionally necessary to surgically repair such perforations when spontaneous closure fails to occur.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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