Evaluation of pediatric patients with foreign body in the external ear canal

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the demographic characteristics, foreign body (FB) types, treatment approaches and complications of pediatric patients with FB detected in the external ear canal. 
Methods: The files of pediatric patients who were found to have FBs in the external auditory canal by ENT specialists between December 2020 and February 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The age, gender, type of FBs, treatment methods and complications of the patients were recorded. 
Results: A total of 108 patients (66 male (61.1%) and 42 female (38.9%) patients) with FB detected in the external ear canal were included in the study. The patients' ages ranged from 1 to 17 years and the median age was 5.0 (4.0) years. FBs were detected in the right ear in 64 (59.3%) patients, in the left ear in 41 (38.0%) patients, and in both ears in 3 (2.8%) patients. The most common FBs were beads (31.5%), insects (9.3%), pencil tips (8.3%) and cotton (8.3%). Complications were observed in 9.3% of the cases. FBs were removed under outpatient conditions in 100 (92.6%) patients, while they were removed under general anesthesia in 8 (7.4%) patients. 
Conclusion: FBs in the external ear canal were frequently seen in children aged 5 years and younger. Most of the FBs consisted of inorganic materials such as beads. In order to avoid complications, especially in the presence of a round and hard FB that cannot be removed with simple applications, consultation from an ENT specialist should be requested.