Keywords: tympanic membrane, cranial injuries, injuries

Abstract: The present paper presents the results of 80 patients who had traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane, attended from December90 to march 92 in ENT Departament of Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. The authors relate the relationship between the size and localization of the perforation and infection with spontaneous cicatrization. Were examinated 80 patients with traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane, they were evaluated under otomicroscopy weekendly by the same doctor unti l the perforation closure or until 90 days after the trauma. The etiologies more frequently found were: cotton stick trauma 23,8%, slap 11,9%, fireworks 9,52%. In this study 19,70% of the perforations didn't close spontaneously in 90 days, looking at patients that presented infection this number increases to 53,3%. The authors conclueded that the spontaneous closure of traumatic perforations of the tympanic membrane depends on the presence or not of infection.