title: Serious complications during aural impression-taking for hearing aids: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complications during aural impression-taking for hearing aids are relatively rare. We present a case to highlight the need for vigilance when taking an aural impression and review the literature to identify other cases in order to assess the range of complications encountered and the sequelae of this potentially serious problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case report and a review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common complication was the entry of mold material into the middle ear cavity. This frequently occurred in patients with a preexisting perforation of the tympanic membrane, although traumatic perforation occurred in 5 cases. Spread of the mold material within the middle ear cavity was frequently extensive, with 46% of cases involving the eustachian tube. There were 6 cases of ossicular chain involvement: encasement of the ossicles in 5 and extensive ossicular erosion in 1. The extent of the surgical procedures performed varied widely, ranging from simple removal of the foreign body in the mastoid cavity to tympanomastoidectomy with a facial recess approach and ossiculoplasty. In 50% of cases, the patient recovered without any complication. However, further hearing loss was observed in 36% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When mold material is impacted in the ear canal and visualization of the middle ear is obscured, we advise against simple piecemeal removal. Such cases are best managed by an experienced otologist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Liverpool University and Broadgreen Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Gyorgy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banhegyi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panarese
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000150:complications