Tympanic membrane perforation impact on severity of injury and resource use in victims of explosion

Though tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) is a marker of barotrauma, relation to severity of injury has been contested based on previous observations that following an explosion many victims with significant injuries do not suffer from TMP while many victims with TMP do not suffer from significant injuries. The objective of this study was to reassess the relationship of TMP to severity of injury and resource demand in patients treated in multiple casualty incidents following terrorist bombings treated in one medical center. Retrospective review. Most of the patients with TMP were mildly injured. Nevertheless, TMP was more prevalent in patients with moderate and severe injuries, 53.3 % compared to 13.6 % in mildly injured patients (p = 0.0009). Patients with TMP suffered from more body areas injured (p