June
2008
Swimmer’s ear
Otitis Externa: Inflammation of external auditory canal or auricle. Infectious, allergic, and dermal disease. Up to 10% of people develop during lifetime. Acute bacterial external otitis most common form seen. Other causes otomycosis, contact dermatitis, necrotizing otitis externa, chronic suppurative otitis media, and external auditory canal carcinoma Lateral (outer) cartilaginous portion approximately two-thirds of canal, and medial (inner) bony portion other one-third. Outer cartilaginous portion lined by thicker skin with numerous adnexal structures including cerumen glands, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles. Cerumen is formed here: mixture of secretions from cerumen glands, sebaceous glands, and desquamated epithelium. The inner osseous portion contains thin skin without subcutaneous tissue. The dermis direct contact with the underlying periosteum. Minimal inflammation or instrumentation of the bony canal causes significant pain. The inferior tympanic recess is a small depression in the inferior medial aspect of the ear canal, adjacent to the tympanic membrane. Debris can collect in this area and cause or perpetuate infection.
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