Ear and audiology: stapedotomy prosthesis: 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: stapedotomy prosthesis

Sample item

A 30-year-old woman with otosclerosis undergoes surgery in which a small hole is made in the stapes footplate and a piston is placed on the long process of the incus. What is the procedure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Small fenestra stapedotomy

In stapedotomy, a hole of about 0.6 mm is made in the footplate and a Teflon or titanium piston bridges the incus and the oval window. It has fewer sensorineural complications than total stapedectomy. It is the preferred operation for otosclerosis.

Option by option

  • A. Myringotomy

    Myringotomy only incises the drum.

  • B. Total stapedectomy

    Total stapedectomy removes the whole footplate and has a higher risk of inner ear injury.

  • C. Small fenestra stapedotomy (correct)

    Correct. A calibrated hole and piston is stapedotomy.

  • D. Type III tympanoplasty

    Type III tympanoplasty places the graft directly on the stapes.

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 C, Small fenestra stapedotomy. In stapedotomy, a hole of about 0.

Why is "Myringotomy" not the answer?

Myringotomy only incises the drum.

Why is "Total stapedectomy" not the answer?

Total stapedectomy removes the whole footplate and has a higher risk of inner ear injury.

Why is "Type III tympanoplasty" not the answer?

Type III tympanoplasty places the graft directly on the stapes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: stapedotomy prosthesis in ENT. 6 mm is made in the footplate and a Teflon or titanium piston bridges the incus and the oval window. It has fewer sensorineural complications than total stapedectomy. It is the preferred operation for otosclerosis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: stapedotomy prosthesis?

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.