Ear Foreign Body Removal

Overview

4.8 out of 5 (32 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post-Assessment Questions

5

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

1 Dec 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


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Activity Description

Foreign bodies in the external auditory canal present a common yet challenging clinical problem, particularly in children, who are prone to inserting objects in their ears. Risk factors include young age, behavioral tendencies, and limited ability to describe symptoms. Adults may also be affected through accidental introduction of insects, cotton swabs, or hearing aid fragments into the canal. Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic cases to pain, pruritus, otorrhea, bleeding, tinnitus, and conductive hearing loss. Diagnosis may be delayed, owing to the nonspecificity of symptoms or limited patient cooperation.

Ear foreign body removal involves direct visualization and careful extraction with appropriate instruments. Indications include symptomatic obstruction and risk of infection, as well as the presence of sharp or caustic objects and button batteries requiring urgent intervention. Contraindications include poor visualization, suspected tympanic membrane perforation, and deep impaction of the object near the middle ear. Procedural challenges include limited patient cooperation, narrow anatomy, and operator inexperience. Potential complications of attempted removal include canal trauma, bleeding, infection, and tympanic membrane perforation, whereas untreated foreign bodies risk chronic infection, persistent hearing loss, and long-term morbidity.

This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to advance learners' proficiency in removing ear foreign bodies and evaluating individuals with indications for the procedure. Participants will gain deeper insights into the relevant anatomy, clinical benefits, indications, contraindications, required equipment, preparation, and technical approach. Strengthened procedural competence will support safe practice and effective collaboration within interprofessional teams managing patients with ear foreign bodies.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Apply best practices for patient preparation and procedural techniques for ear foreign body removal.

  • Develop strategies to identify objects that require emergent removal from the external auditory canal.

  • Screen patients for contraindications and potential risks associated with ear foreign body removal, such as patient tolerance.

  • Implement interprofessional team strategies to enhance care coordination and apply effective techniques for safely removing ear foreign bodies, minimizing complications, and improving patient outcomes.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Physicians and Physician Associates: StatPearls, LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians and PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Internal Medicine: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn their required annual part II self-assessment credit in the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery’s Continuing Certification program (formerly known as MOC). It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of recognizing participation.

American Board of Pathology: Successful completion of this Continuing Certification activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 Lifelong Learning (CME) credits in the American Board of Pathology’s Continuing Certification Program.

American Board of Pediatrics: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

American Board of Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Sarah B. on 4/9/2021

Anna L. on 11/22/2021

Melissa R. on 11/21/2022

Valerie G. on 3/1/2023

Brian B. on 4/16/2023

Melissa L. on 5/29/2023

Whittney H. on 8/18/2023

Kristi F. on 9/27/2023

Ashley F. on 11/27/2023

Josh M. on 12/7/2023

Holly S. on 12/9/2023

Gerard P. on 12/29/2023

Gustavo D. on 1/20/2024

Melissa B. on 3/10/2024

Annette T. on 4/28/2024

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Natasha C. on 5/8/2024

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Molly Y. on 9/12/2024

Tiana V. on 11/7/2024

Charles H. on 6/25/2025

Timothy D. on 10/8/2025

Cathy P. on 10/30/2025

Adeline A. on 12/8/2025

William R. on 12/18/2025

Alyson R. on 4/16/2026

Excellent topic!

Antonio R. on 4/21/2026

Susan C. on 4/24/2026

Allison B. on 7/9/2026

Toni M. on 8/5/2026

Sarah H. on 8/19/2026

Unlimited Physician CME

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6279 CME activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7486.5 hours of CME.

Learn About Lifetime CME

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$49 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$399 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$649 per 1 year per user