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A change in clinical practice for aural foreign bodies – what we learnt from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2021

G C Ho ,
R Thind ,
D Yap  and
A Hunt
G C Ho*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK
R Thind
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK
D Yap
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK
A Hunt
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr G C Ho, ENT Department, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK E-mail: justinhogc@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

This case series, conducted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, investigates the impact of leaving aural foreign bodies in situ for a prolonged period of time, including the risk of complications and success rates of subsequent removal attempts.

Method

A retrospective study of aural foreign body referrals over a six-month period was carried out.

Results

Thirty-four patients with 35 foreign bodies were identified (6 organic and 29 inorganic). The duration of foreign bodies left in situ ranged from 1 to 78 days. Four patients suffered from traumatic removal upon initial attempts. First attempts made by non-ENT specialists (68.8 per cent) all failed and were associated with a high risk of trauma (36.4 per cent).

Conclusion

Because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, this is the first case series to specifically investigate the relationship between the duration of aural foreign bodies left in situ and the risk of complications. Our data suggest that prolonged duration does not increase the incidence of complications.

Keywords

Foreign BodiesEarCOVID-19Retrospective StudiesEar CanalTympanic Membrane
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 9 , September 2021 , pp. 825 - 828
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr G C Ho takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

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