Extraction of Aural Foreign Bodies in a Rural Setting: 10-Year Review and a Novel Method to Remove Magnetic Stones

Abstract

Background: The external auditory canal’s unique anatomical characteristics made the presence of foreign bodies (FBs) a clinical challenge, particularly in rural settings without ready access to tertiary care and specialist intervention. Aims: Our study surveys the experience in aural FBs surgical management in a rural Australian tertiary center. It proposes a safe, easy, and affordable technique to remove stones from the ear canal. Methods: We have completed a 10-year retrospective surgical chart review, including 474 patients (52 adults and 428 children) requiring surgical management to remove aural FBs at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia. We surveyed for patient demographics, foreign-body description, complications, location, and removal attempts. We 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. Results: The most common FBs requiring surgery in children were stones. A predominance in the Aboriginal population from remote communities was found, leading to a nasal bridle magnet technique to remove stones in rural settings. 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. Conclusion: 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.