ABSTRACT
The external, middle and inner ear structures are liable to be affected by trauma in isolation or in combination, depending on the type and severity of the injury. The most common cause is a blunt head injury as a result of road traffic accidents (RTAs) and falls, usually in association with temporal bone fracture and often combined
with other injuries. Penetrating injuries of the temporal bone are less common. Damage to the tympanic membrane and middle ear can also be caused by objects inserted through the ear canal, a blow to the pinna or blast injuries. Iatrogenic injury is usually the result of inadvertent surgical trauma to the labyrinth or facial nerve. Other mechanisms of injury to the ear include barotrauma and noise.
