Ear and audiology: indication for myringotomy: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Ear and audiology: indication for myringotomy

Sample item

A 4-year-old with acute otitis media has severe ear pain and fever, and the drum is bulging and red with no response to 48 hours of antibiotics. What is the most appropriate procedure?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Myringotomy in the posteroinferior quadrant

A bulging drum with severe pain or failure of antibiotics is an indication for myringotomy. The incision is placed in the posteroinferior quadrant to avoid the ossicles and chorda tympani. It relieves pain and allows culture of pus.

Option by option

  • A. Myringotomy in the posteroinferior quadrant (correct)

    Correct. Drainage of the bulging drum is indicated.

  • B. Cortical mastoidectomy

    Mastoidectomy is for coalescent mastoiditis.

  • C. Syringing of the ear

    Syringing is for wax and risks harm in infection.

  • D. Myringoplasty

    Myringoplasty repairs a dry perforation.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Myringotomy in the posteroinferior quadrant. A bulging drum with severe pain or failure of antibiotics is an indication for myringotomy.

Why is "Cortical mastoidectomy" not the answer?

Mastoidectomy is for coalescent mastoiditis.

Why is "Syringing of the ear" not the answer?

Syringing is for wax and risks harm in infection.

Why is "Myringoplasty" not the answer?

Myringoplasty repairs a dry perforation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: indication for myringotomy in ENT. The incision is placed in the posteroinferior quadrant to avoid the ossicles and chorda tympani. It relieves pain and allows culture of pus.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ear and audiology: indication for myringotomy?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.