WHEN NOT TO SYRINGE AN EAR

This article reviews the potential hazards of ear syringing and the Ac cident Compensation Corporation Medical Misadventure Unit's experience of alleged iatrogenic injury over a 17-month period. Syringing claims account for about 25% of the total claims received by the ACC ENT Med ical Misadventure Committee. Forty-seven claims were accepted as eithe r mishap or error, and 63 claims were declined. Perforation of the dru m was by far the commonest injury resulting in significant disability. Severe iatrogenic otitis externa accounted for most of the remainder. Practice nurses had syringed the ears of approximately two-thirds of the claimants with significant disability. The contraindications to ea r syringing are listed and discussed. The correct technique, with a fe w ''do and don't'' pointers, is briefly reviewed. Management of the un intentional injury is discussed.