Assessments of the size of tympanic membrane perforations: a comparison of clinical estimations with video-otoscopic calculations.
We conducted a study to determine how accurate various ENT specialists were in estimating the size of 100 tympanic membrane (TM) perforations with standard otoscopy. The specialists included, in descending order of rank, 2 Consultant Surgeons, 2 Senior Registrars, and 2 Registrars, all of whom had confirmed good vision. We compared their estimates, which were made independently and expressed as a percentage of the total area of the TM, with exact measurements calculated with computer-based video-otoscopy. We found that the video-otoscopic calculations were far superior to the estimates of the specialists, even the most experienced Consultants (p < 0.01). We recommend that video-otoscopy be used whenever possible.
Ibekwe
Titus S
TS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. ibekwets@yahoo.com
Nwaorgu
Onyekwere G
OG
Adeosun
Aderemi A
AA
Kokong
Daniel D
DD
Lawal
Hakeem O
HO
Okundia
Patrick O
PO
Onakoya
Paul A
PA
D006801:Humans; D038781:Otoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000473:pathology*; D014741:Video Recording