Hemotympanums secondary to spontaneous epistaxis.

Three cases of hemotympanum that resulted from spontaneous, atraumatic epistaxis are presented. Hemotympanum is a well known physical finding associated with traumatic basilar skull fractures but has not been reported to follow spontaneous nose bleeds that have not been previously treated with nasal packing. A discussion of epistaxis and hemotympanum is presented, and their implication for emergency physicians is discussed.