Table 1.
Presenting signs, symptoms, radiographic findings, otolaryngology consults, and final diagnoses in trauma patients (N = 39) and patients with acute infectious concerns (N = 53).
| Trauma, N (%) | Infection, N (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Presenting symptoms | ||
| Otalgia | 6 (15) | 42 (79) |
| Otorrhea | 7 (18) | 14 (26) |
| Hearing loss | 7 (18) | 6 (11) |
| Post-auricular pain / swelling | 0 (0) | 10 (19) |
| Presenting signs | ||
| Mental status change | 12 (31) | 5 (9) |
| Acute otitis media | 0 (0) | 16 (30) |
| Mastoid tenderness | 4 (10) | 29 (55) |
| Hemotympanum | 16 (41) | 0 (0) |
| Auricular proptosis | 0 (0) | 17 (32) |
| Otorrhea | 1 (3) | 15 (28) |
| Bloody otorrhea | 10 (26) | 0 (0) |
| Abnormal tuning fork exam | 9 (23) | 2 (4) |
| Post-auricular erythema | 0 (0) | 10 (19) |
| Post-auricular fluctuance | 0 (0) | 6 (11) |
| Facial nerve paralysis | 2 (5) | 2 (4) |
| Radiographic findings | ||
| No acute abnormality | 2 (5) | 10 (19) |
| Otic capsule-sparing fracture | 29 (74) | 0 (0) |
| Otic capsule-involving fracture | 2 (5) | 0 (0) |
| Mastoid effusion | 16 (41) | 19 (36) |
| Simple mastoiditis | 0 (0) | 11 (21) |
| Complicated mastoiditis | 0 (0) | 10 (19) |
| Otitis media | 0 (0) | 6 (11) |
| Otitis externa | 0 (0) | 8 (15) |
| Known cholesteatoma | 0 (0) | 5 (9) |
| Suspected cholesteatoma | 0 (0) | 1 (2) |
| Cavernous sinus thrombosis | 0 (0) | 1 (2) |
| Prior Head CT | 29 (74) | 5 (9) |
| Consults | ||
| ENT Consult | 33 (85) | 35 (66) |
| Final diagnosis | ||
| No acute ear pathology | 2 (5) | 9 (17) |
| Simple mastoiditis | 0 (0) | 6 (11) |
| Complicated mastoiditis | 0 (0) | 15 (28) |
| Simple otitis media | 0 (0) | 11 (21) |
| Complicated otitis media | 0 (0) | 2 (4) |
| Otitis externa | 0 (0) | 5 (9) |
| Eustachian tube dysfunction | 0 (0) | 1 (2) |
| Mastoid effusion | 5 (13) | 3 (6) |
| Temporal bone fracture | 31 (79) | 0 (0) |
| Cerumen impaction | 1 (3) | 1 (2) |
CT, computed tomography.
ENT, ear, nose, and throat.