# A Successful Case Report of Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy (EAT) in a Patient With Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation Caused by Chronic Epipharyngitis

## TL;DR

A patient with ear issues and sleep apnea improved after a therapy targeting throat inflammation.

## Contribution

Epipharyngeal abrasive therapy (EAT) is shown to improve tympanic membrane healing and sleep apnea by addressing Eustachian tube dysfunction.

## Key findings

- EAT shortened the time for traumatic tympanic membrane perforation to close.
- EAT improved symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome in the patient.
- EAT likely enhanced Eustachian tube function and reduced airway resistance.

## Abstract

Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane often occurs in Japanese patients who scratch their ears to relieve itching. Traumatic tympanic membrane perforation may close spontaneously, but the perforation may remain. One of the causes of prolonged tympanic membrane perforation closure is dysfunction of the Eustachian tube. In this study, I experienced a case of chronic epipharyngitis causing ear fullness and itching, and a traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane caused by scratching with an earpick. The patient also had sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). Treatment of chronic epipharyngitis with epipharyngeal abrasive therapy (EAT) shortened the time to perforation closure and improved SAS, suggesting that EAT affected the improvement of Eustachian tube function and airway resistance in the epipharynx.