Permanent Facial Paralysis and Hearing Loss After Aural Irrigation

Permanent Facial Paralysis and Hearing Loss After Aural Irrigation:

Removal of cerumen can be achieved through different methods, which each have advantages and disadvantages. One method is aural irrigation, which carries a risk of tympanic perforation or otitis externa. More serious complications are rare but important to recognize. We report the first case of permanent facial palsy and hearing loss following aural irrigation, to our knowledge. This is a unique report of a rare but important complication of aural irrigation: tympanic membrane perforation and infection, with subsequent permanent facial palsy and mixed hearing loss.