Pathologies of ears, nose and throat Flashcards
Anatomy of the skull
- 2 parietal bones
- 1 occipital bone
- 2 temporal bones
- 1 ethmoid bone
- 1 frontal bone
- 1 sphenoid bone
Nasal Fx
- evaluate for concussion
- “raccoon eyes” indicate nasal or skull fx
- septal hematoma (refer to ENT)
Treatment for nasal fx
ice, pressure on upper maxilla (control epistaxis), check deformation, refer to ENT in 3-5 days
Management of nasal injuries
Bleeding
- if no Hx of acute injury: return athlete with cotton plug or gauze
FXs
- examine for deformity frontal and superior views
- have athlete feel & look for deformity
Rx: ice, position for drainage, refer
3 parts of the ear
outer, middle and inner ear
Outer ear
it funnels sound waves in air to the tympanic membrane
What is the tympanic membrane?
it forms the boundary between outer and middle ear, vibrating sound as it arrives through the external ear canal
What does vibrations do?
they are transmitted to the inner ear via ossicles which turn sound vibrations into electrical signals which are sent to the brain via the cochlear nerve
External ear Injuries: Auricular hematoma
“Cauliflower ear”
MOI: repeated blunt trauma
-Pathology:
- blood accumulates between skin & cartilage
- if chronic, becomes granulation tissue
- MD drains if chronic
Otitis externa
“swimmers ear”= bacteria from excessive H2O
- outer ear infection (usually bacterial, occassionally fungal) to external auditory meatus
- may occur with cauliflower ear
S/S: intense pain & itching (pruritis)
- + tug on ear
Otitis Media
URI: inflammation of mucous membrane
-Hx of URI’s : +weber test
(vibration increases in affected ear)
- Tx: antibiotics
Tympanic membrane rupture
MOI: blunt trauma to external ear or increased pressure with inner ear infection
- pressure during airplane travel
- keep ear dry, dont use q-tip, referral
Throat
MOI: contusion, blunt trauma
Serious conditions: REFER
- compromised respiration
-laryngeal complications: stridor (wheezing), indicates upper airway obstruction
Common pathologies of the oropharynx and nasopharynx
laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis
- infections in the throat that cause inflammation (may be bacterial or viral infection)
referral criteria: if sore throat or fever or TTP on throat or lymph nodes
Managing throat trauma
larynx: when eating, larynx (voice box) elevates and esophagus opens to allow food
- monitor vitals!
-observe for dyspnea, apnea, expand swelling
