Military medicine
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The tympanic membrane (TM) has long been viewed as an indicator of primary blast injury. A primary blast injury occurs due overpressure occurring as a result of the detonation of high explosives. ⋯ The use of the perforation of the tympanic membrane as an indicator of a primary blast injury missed a range of up to 50% of those suffering a primary blast injury to the lung. The status of the tympanic membrane following exposure to a blast does not preclude the need for further investigations for a primary blast injury and the clinician needs to evaluate the patient dependent on their particular exposure to an explosion.