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Earwax and level of paralysis
1Spinal Cord Injury Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1400 Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02492, USA.
Spinal Cord
|April 2, 2003
Summary
Patients with high spinal cord injuries, particularly at the C2 level, experience more frequent earwax buildup. This necessitates more frequent earwax removal compared to individuals with lower paralysis levels.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to various secondary health conditions.
- The prevalence of earwax impaction in SCI patients, especially those with high-level paralysis, is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of earwax accumulation in patients with spinal cord injuries and high levels of paralysis.
- To compare earwax buildup between patients with C2 lesions and those with lower spinal cord injury levels.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 15 motor-complete SCI patients in a long-term care facility participated.
- Monthly ear irrigations were offered for 6 months, with requests tabulated.
- A point prevalence survey assessed earwax accumulation, graded as absent, small, moderate, or large.
Main Results:
- Patients with C2 lesions (n=2) requested more earwax irrigations (10) over 6 months than those with C4-T6 lesions (n=13, 3 requests).
- A spot survey found moderate to large amounts of earwax in 100% of C2 patient ears versus 8.3% of C4-T6 patient ears (P=0.001).
- Earwax removal relieved symptoms of hearing loss in all cases.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with C2 tetraplegia accumulate significantly more earwax.
- Higher levels of paralysis, specifically C2 lesions, are associated with increased earwax production and a greater need for removal.
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