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Isolated Traumatic Dislocation of the Malleus into the External Auditory Canal
Jong Hwan Lee1, Ji Woong Choi2, Do Yoon Jeong2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
We report a rare case of isolated malleus dislocation into the external auditory canal with lateralized intact tympanic membrane following a head trauma. The patient was a 63-year-old woman who presented at the outpatient department of our institute with hearing loss of 10 years' duration after a bicycle accident. During physical examination of the patient, total dislocation of the malleus-like bony structure into the external auditory canal on the right side was observed. In the computed tomography scan, an isolated malleus dislocation with intact incus-stapes articulation was identified. The patient was successfully treated with endoscopic exploratory tympanotomy and partial ossicular replacement prosthesis. The isolated malleus dislocation can rarely occur after trauma. A careful diagnostic step through history, physical examination, and temporal bone computed tomography scan are needed to confirm this rare condition.
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