Ear and audiology: stapes surgery in only hearing ear: 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: stapes surgery in only hearing ear

Sample item

A patient with bilateral otosclerosis requests stapes surgery. Which principle is generally followed when planning the operation?

AOperate on the poorer ear first, and avoid operating on an only hearing earBOperate only on the better hearing earCAlways operate on both ears in the same sittingDOperate on the better ear first

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Operate on the poorer ear first, and avoid operating on an only hearing ear

Stapedotomy carries a small risk of sensorineural loss. Operating on the worse ear first protects the better ear, and an only hearing ear is generally not operated, or only after careful counselling. Bilateral simultaneous surgery is avoided.

Option by option

A. Operate on the poorer ear first, and avoid operating on an only hearing ear (correct)
Correct. The poorer ear is chosen to limit the risk to useful hearing.
B. Operate only on the better hearing ear
The better ear should not be chosen first.
C. Always operate on both ears in the same sitting
Bilateral same-sitting surgery doubles the risk of bilateral loss.
D. Operate on the better ear first
Operating on the better ear exposes the useful hearing to risk.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Operate on the poorer ear first, and avoid operating on an only hearing ear. Stapedotomy carries a small risk of sensorineural loss.

Why is "Operate only on the better hearing ear" not the answer?

The better ear should not be chosen first.

Why is "Always operate on both ears in the same sitting" not the answer?

Bilateral same-sitting surgery doubles the risk of bilateral loss.

Why is "Operate on the better ear first" not the answer?

Operating on the better ear exposes the useful hearing to risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: stapes surgery in only hearing ear in ENT. Operating on the worse ear first protects the better ear, and an only hearing ear is generally not operated, or only after careful counselling. Bilateral simultaneous surgery is avoided.

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: stapes surgery in only hearing ear?

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.