A 27 years pregnant female with flamingo pink color tympanic membrane comes with history of traumatic ossicular discontinuity. Type of curve expected on tympanometry:
**Question:** A 27 years pregnant female with flamingo pink color tympanic membrane comes with history of traumatic ossicular discontinuity. Type of curve expected on tympanometry:
A. Flat
B. Resistive
C. Compliance
D. Tensile
**Core Concept:** Tympanometry is a non-invasive diagnostic test used to evaluate middle ear function by measuring the compliance and resistance of the eardrum and middle ear bones. It helps in assessing the integrity of the ossicular chain and identifying any middle ear pathology such as tympanic membrane perforation, fluid accumulation, or cholesteatoma.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:** In the context of a pregnant patient with a flamingo pink color tympanic membrane and a history of traumatic ossicular discontinuity, the correct answer is **D. Tensile**. This is because the ossicular chain, which includes the malleus, incus, and stapes, is under increased pressure due to the growing fetus and the changes in the middle ear anatomy during pregnancy. This increased pressure can lead to stretching and damage to the ossicular chain, causing a tensile type of curve on tympanometry.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
**A. Flat:** A flat curve indicates a completely air-filled middle ear with no pathology. In this case, the patient's tympanic membrane is red and inflamed, indicating ossicular disruption and not a completely air-filled middle ear.
**B. Resistive:** A resistive curve is indicative of a middle ear with fluid or cholesteatoma. Since the patient has a tensile curve on tympanometry, this option is incorrect.
**C. Compliance:** A compliance curve is associated with increased middle ear compliance, which is unlikely in this case with the patient's ossicular disruption.
**Clinical Pearl:** Tympanometry helps identify the type of middle ear pathology and assists in guiding the appropriate management plan. In this case, it helps in diagnosing an ossicular disruption and guiding the choice of tympanoplasty surgery to repair the ossicular chain.