Can Epidermal Growth Factor heal Perforated Eardrums?

The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is a thin layer of tissue that separates the outer and middle ear. It plays a crucial role in hearing by transmitting sound vibrations from the outer ear to the middle ear. However, the eardrum can become damaged or perforated due to various reasons such as infection, injury, loud noises, and changes in air pressure.

A perforated eardrum can cause symptoms such as ear pain, discharge from the ear, hearing loss, and ringing in the ear. In most cases, a perforated eardrum will heal on its own within a few weeks, but sometimes medical intervention is required. Treatment options may include medication, surgery, or observation depending on the severity and cause of the perforation.

In this clinical trial, doctors wanted to find out if a solution called epidermal growth factor (EGF) can help heal a perforation in the eardrum, also known as acute tympanic membrane perforation.

Clinical Trial

The trial was conducted in a government hospital and included 17 patients who were between the ages of 18 and 65 years old. They all had a hole in their eardrum that was caused by injury or infection. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups - one group was treated with the EGF solution, while the other group was not treated and only observed.

The patients were then followed up on a weekly basis for four weeks. During each follow-up visit, doctors used a special tool called a video otoscope to check the size of the hole in the eardrum and take pictures of it. They also used software called ImageJTM to measure the size of the hole. In addition, they performed a hearing test called pure tone audiometry on each patient to check if their hearing had improved.

Results

The results of the trial showed that the size of the hole in the eardrum decreased faster in the group that was treated with the EGF solution compared to the group that was only observed. This means that the EGF solution helped to heal the hole in the eardrum faster.

The trial also showed that some patients in the EGF group who had mild or moderate hearing loss at the beginning of the study had improved hearing by the end of the trial. None of the patients in the observation group had improved hearing.

Based on these results, the doctors concluded that the EGF solution can be used to treat a hole in the eardrum caused by injury or infection during the acute phase or within three months of the perforation.

Conclusion

This clinical trial showed that the EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) solution can help heal a hole in the eardrum faster and improve hearing in some patients. This can be useful for patients who have a hole in their eardrum caused by injury or infection. It's important to note that this study only included a small number of patients, so more research is needed to confirm these results.

It's important to seek medical attention if you suspect you have a perforated eardrum, as it can lead to complications such as infection or hearing loss if left untreated.

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