Hemotympanum

A 78-year-old man presented because of hearing loss and ear fullness after a head injury that had occurred during a walk 5 days earlier. Otoscopy of the left ear revealed a dark-bluish-purple eardrum, a finding suggestive of hemotympanum. A 78-year-old man presented because of left-sided hearing loss and ear fullness after a head injury that occurred during a walk 5 days earlier. Otoscopy of the left ear revealed a dark-bluish-purple eardrum, a finding suggestive of hemotympanum (Panel A). Audiometric findings were consistent with conductive hearing loss in the left ear. Computed tomography revealed a fracture of the left temporal bone, fluid accumulation in both the tympanic cavity and the mastoid cells, and small contusions of the temporal lobe. The patient was observed but not hospitalized, in accordance with a neurosurgeon's advice. At a follow-up visit 3 weeks later, . . .