A rare cause of acute tympanic membrane perforation: a case report

This is a case report of 57yrs old gentleman who presented to accident and emergency department with complaints of sudden onset of left earache, tinnitus, feeling of fullness in the ear which he claimed to start following an episode of sudden sneezing, while he was trying to blow his nose by pinching it with 2 fingers. The tympanic membrane was ruptured. He was managed conservatively with analgesics. Spontaneous and complete healing of the perforated tympanic membrane occured within one month of follow up. It was shown that an episode of sneezing with nose closed can build up such a high pressure in the middle ear which can perforate a tympanic membrane.