Traumatic tympanic membrane perforation by a needlefish: case report.
OBJECTIVE
We report a unique case of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation caused by a needlefish beak. We describe the mechanism of injury, the clinical findings and the treatment.


METHODS
An 11-year-old boy presented with otorrhoea and hearing loss secondary to a traumatic tympanic membrane perforation by a needlefish. The perforation was repaired by performing a myringoplasty, with satisfactory post-operative audiological results.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of its kind. It is recommended that careful examination of the middle-ear space should always be carried out prior to and during myringoplasty if there is a possibility of a foreign body.
ENT Department, Milton Keynes General NHS Trust, UK.
P
P
Bijoor
T
T
Rourke
H
H
Thomson
D000818:Animals; D023761:Beloniformes; D002648:Child; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009225:Myringoplasty / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013550:Swimming; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*