ENT Flashcards
What are the names of the 3 ossicles?
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
What is otitis externa?
Infection of the outer ear - ear discharge, tenderness of ear on palpation, eczema and narrowing of outer ear leading to partial deafness.
What is the treatment for otitis externa?
Antibiotic drops or oral antibiotics for 1 week - usually an aminoglycoside such as gentamicin, although don’t give if the eardrum is perforated due to ototoxicity.
What is acute otitis media?
Acute middle ear infection - tympanic membrane is red and bulging.
Very common in children.
What is the treatment for acute otitis media?
Antibiotic drops or oral antibiotics for a week, usually amoxicillin.
Although be cautious with antibiotic prescribing as they make little difference to symptoms or development of complications, are only really needed if symptoms are worsening/not resolving or if patient is systemically unwell.
What is otitis media with effusion?
Effusion of the middle ear cavity (although not infection). Very common in children, effusion in the ear can sometimes cause hearing loss or earache.
What is the treatment for otitis media with effusion?
Usually self-resolving and should be monitored under active observation. If recurring or not improving grommets can be surgically inserted to open up ear canal or adenoidectomy can be performed to remove any obstruction of Eustachian tube. Antibiotics should not be used.
What is mastoiditis?
Acute infection of the mastoid bone, complication of middle ear infection, infection spreads through mastoid antrum to mastoid air cells. Needs urgent antibiotics and hospital admission.
What is cholesteatoma?
Condition where a cyst of skin grows from the eardrum into the middle ear cavity resulting in chronic smelly discharge. Needs surgical removal as if left untreated can lead to hearing loss, loss of balance and damage to facial nerve resulting in facial paralysis.
What is labyrinthitis?
Infection or inflammation of the inner ear, bacterial or viral in origin. Leads to sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo and loss of balance.
What is otosclerosis?
When abnormal bone growth occurs around the stapes, leading to fusion of bones and conductive hearing loss. Definitive treatment is hearing aids or stapedectomy. Has a genetic link.
What is Ménière’s disease?
Increased pressure in the fluid of the inner ear leading to vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss. Management involves grommets or labyrinthectomy.
What is pinna haematoma?
When trauma causes separation of the cartilage and overlying perichondrium of the ear and a haematoma forms in the space. If the haematoma is not drained then avascular necrosis of the cartilage may occur leading to deformity known as ‘cauliflower ear’.
What is BPPV?
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
Condition where crystals form in the inner ear that move around with the fluid, movement of crystals simulates the sensation of rotation, leading to vertigo. Commonest cause of vertigo.
What is the maneouvre called to fix BPPV?
Epley manoeuvre - repositioning maneouvre.
