Otology Flashcards
List the components of the external ear.
Pinna
Ear canal
List the components of the middle ear.
Tympanic membrane
Ear ossicles
List the components of the inner ear.
Semi-circular canals
Cochlea
Name the three ossicles of the middle ear.
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
Otalgia?
Ear pain
What should be asked about hearing loss?
Gradual or sudden
Unilateral bilateral
What should be asked about tinnitus?
Type of noise e.g. whooshing, ringing, buzzing.
What can otalgia be associated with?
Fever
Infection
Earache
Do chronic or acute conditions usually cause earache?
Acute
Which type of cancer could cause earache?
Tonsillar cancer
->especially something to be aware of if an elderly patient presents with earache.
Which skin condition can cause ear infections?
Eczema
Which instrument is used to examine the ear?
Otoscope
What would you see in a normal tympanic membrane?
Light reflection
In people with normal hearing, what is better- air conduction or bone conduction?
Air conduction
Name a situation where bone conduction may be better than air conduction
If there has been a perforation
If a patient has wax in the ear, what should be done?
If causing symptoms, it can be removed.
If not, will clear on it’s own.
If a patient is going to get wax removed, what can be done first?
Olive oil/almond oil ear drops to thin the wax
What can be done if there is no improvement of ear wax after using ear drops?
Ear Irrigation
If a patient has bleeding in the ear after trauma, e.g. RTA, what may be the cause?
Base line fracture of skull
Name some inorganic foreign bodies.
Beads, plastic material
Name some organic foreign bodies.
Cotton buds
Nuts
Which type of foreign body can cause more damage?
Organic foreign bodies-> can cause excoriation of skin and lead to otitis media in some cases.
What should be done in the cases of foreign bodies?
Should be removed, quicker if organic FB
What should be done in the cases of penetrating trauma to ear?
Do not prod, leave it and review in six weeks
What is the treatment for acute otitis externa?
Topical antibiotics
NO WATER IN EAR
-Sofradex
-Gentisone HC ear drops
Otomize spray
If patient has history of ear infections, which medication should not be given and why?
Aminoglycosides as can cause sensory neural hearing loss
What should be used in the treatment of acute otitis externa if the tympanic membrane is perforated or not visible?
Cilodex- combo of Ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone
Your patient with otitis externa ignores advice and goes swimming.
The ear becomes swollen so you can hardly see the ear canal and secretions cannot come out of the ear, causing a lot of pain.
What can be done?
Use a Pope Wick, a small tampon, to put through the small slit and add drops to keep the ear canal open and stop it collapsing. ALso can put ear drops using this Pope Wick