Complications of foreign body removal include pain, otitis externa, otitis media, and trauma to the ear or tympanic membrane. The likelihood of successful removal of the object decreases and the risk for complications increases with each subsequent attempt.17 Consult an otolaryngologist if sedation or anesthesia is required, the foreign body is tightly wedged, there is trauma to the ear canal or tympanic membrane, the foreign body has a sharp edge (eg, glass or wire), or removal attempts have been unsuccessful.
Trauma
Sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, bites, falls, and burns are the primary causes of trauma to the external ear.18
What you’ll see. Blunt auricular trauma predisposes to infection, necrosis, and scar contracture. One of the most common sequelae is cauliflower ear. Trauma is particularly common with contact sports such as boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts. The skin of the auricle attaches directly to the perichondrium. Following blunt or shearing trauma to the auricle, hematomas form within the space between the perichondrium and cartilage of the anterior ear.19Following hematoma formation, the healing process brings chondrocytes and fibroblasts to the subperichondrial space, promoting fibrocartilage formation. Over time (and with repeated injury), this can lead to a chronic, bulbous deformity known as cauliflower ear.
How to treat. Small hematomas can be managed by aspiration, while larger ones generally require open drainage.20 Newer treatments involving pressure dressings and the use of fibrin glue have been proposed.20 Recommend that athletes participating in contact sports wear appropriate protective headgear to prevent auricular hematoma and cauliflower ear.
Neoplasm
Roughly 5% of all skin cancers involve the ear, most frequently the pinna due to chronic sun exposure.21 The most frequently occurring malignancy of the external ear is basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which is responsible for 80% of all nonmelanoma skin cancers.22
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