DAN Accident Assessment Answer: It would not be unreasonable to suspect that a perforated ear drum was the cause of the pain considering the diver’s history of equalization difficulty. Certainly, the orange-colored fluid draining out of the ear could have indicated blood. However, upon evaluation by the nurse practitioner, it was discovered that this diver had a large amount of ear wax that blocked the ear canal. This condition is known as impacted cerumen which creates an airspace in the ear canal that cannot be equalized (similar to using non-vented ear plugs). The impacted cerumen and the resulting airspace makes middle ear equalization very difficult and it may even prevent equalization due to the ear drum not being able to move. This type of impaction can occur with some individuals more frequently than others and it is not directly related to personal hygiene. Evaluating and removing the impaction can easily be done by your doctor. If you decide to remove the impaction yourself, there are kits available at pharmacies without a prescription that can work well. Keep in mind that ear drops are used to prevent ear infections for swimmers (otitis externa) and are NOT intended to treat ear injuries. If a diver reports pain or other symptoms in their ear, do not use drops and seek immediate medical evaluation.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:00:00 +0000
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