Definition of Ear, foreign object in

Ear, foreign object in: A foreign object in the external ear canal. Foreign objects are often placed in the ear by young children or by accident while trying to clean or scratch the ear. There is often an accompanying external ear infection.

Removal of an object from the ear can be very difficult and should only be attempted by a trained health care professional. This can usually be done in the clinic or emergency room, but sometimes general anesthesia must be used if the object is lodged too deeply in the ear or the patient is uncooperative. It is important to remember that the most common reason an ear is injured from a foreign object is because of inadvertent damage incurred during the removal of the object.