Novel Technique for Extraction of Aural Foreign Bodies in Rural Settings, finds study

In a recent study, researchers have discovered a novel technique for the extraction of aural FBs. They reported that the nasal bridle magnet technique has better outcomes and minimal complications. The research has been published in the Ear, Nose & Throat Journal on March 30, 2021.

Due to the communities' remoteness and the lack of specialist instrumentation, most of the patients had several attempts to remove the FB, complicating the extraction, requiring transferring the patient by care flight, and leading to negative experiences elevation in health costs. This reinforces the requirement of a novel technique for extraction procedures that can be accessible even in rural areas. Therefore, Dr Nayellin Reyes-Chicuellar and Dr Graeme Crossland surveyed the experience in aural FBs surgical management in a rural Australian tertiary centre and explored for a safe, easy, and affordable technique to remove stones from the ear canal.

It was a retrospective review of a 10-year surgical chart that included 474 patients (52 adults and 428 children) requiring surgical management to remove aural FBs at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia. The researchers surveyed patient demographics, foreign-body description, complications, location, and removal attempts. They identified what factors determine the need for surgical management and propose a technique for a safe, uncomplicated, and affordable removal of stones from the ear canal after applying this method in a small subgroup.

Key findings of the study were:

• Upon analysis, the researchers found the most common FBs requiring surgery in children were stones, contrary to international literature.
• They found a predominance in the Aboriginal population from remote communities, which leads to a nasal bridle magnet technique to remove stones in rural settings.
• They noted that this method reduces the number of extraction attempts of the most frequent FB found in children's ears, aiming to minimize complications, negative experiences, and health cost.

The authors concluded, "Contrary to international literature, stones were found to be the most common FB in remote aboriginal populations. The proposed technique reduces the number of extraction attempts of the most frequent FB found in children's ears, aiming to minimize complications, negative experiences, and health cost."

For further information:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01455613211006007