H72.2 – Tympanic Membrane Perforation: Causes & Treatment
H72.2 is the ICD-10 code for perforation of the tympanic membrane due to other causes, such as trauma or acute infection. It affects the middle ear.
Things worth knowing about "H72.2"
H72.2 is the ICD-10 code for perforation of the tympanic membrane due to other causes, such as trauma or acute infection. It affects the middle ear.
What does ICD-10 Code H72.2 mean?
The ICD-10 code H72.2 refers to a perforation of the tympanic membrane due to other causes – meaning a rupture or hole in the eardrum that is not caused by chronic middle ear disease. The tympanic membrane (eardrum) is a thin membrane separating the outer ear canal from the middle ear and plays a key role in sound transmission and hearing.
Causes
A tympanic membrane perforation classified under H72.2 can be triggered by various factors:
- Acoustic trauma: Loud bangs, explosions, or sudden pressure changes (e.g., while diving or flying)
- Mechanical trauma: Injury caused by foreign objects in the ear (e.g., cotton swabs, sharp instruments)
- Barotrauma: Sudden pressure changes, for example during scuba diving or at high altitudes
- Acute otitis media: Accumulating pus can lead to spontaneous perforation of the eardrum
- Iatrogenic causes: Complications from medical procedures involving the ear
Symptoms
Typical signs of a tympanic membrane perforation include:
- Sudden, sharp ear pain
- Hearing loss (usually temporary, rarely permanent)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Discharge of fluid or blood from the ear
- Dizziness (vertigo) if the inner ear is involved
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually established by:
- Otoscopy: Direct visual examination of the eardrum using an otoscope or ear speculum with a light source
- Tympanometry: Measurement of eardrum mobility and middle ear pressure
- Audiogram: Hearing test to evaluate the extent of any hearing loss
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the perforation:
- Conservative management: Small perforations often heal spontaneously within a few weeks. Ear drops (without ototoxic components) and analgesics may be used for symptom relief.
- Pharmacological therapy: Antibiotics (systemic or topical) are administered when infection is present.
- Surgical treatment (myringoplasty / tympanoplasty): Larger or persistent perforations may require surgical closure of the eardrum.
During the healing process, the ear should be kept dry and protected from water to prevent secondary infections.
References
- World Health Organization (WHO): International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Geneva, 2019. Available at: https://www.who.int/classifications/icd/
- Lalwani A.K. (ed.): Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 4th edition, McGraw-Hill Education, 2020.
- Browning G.G., Weir J., Mackay I.S.: Clinical Otolaryngology. 3rd edition, Blackwell Publishing, 2008.
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