A 35-year-old man sustains a temporal bone fracture. He develops a conductive hearing loss. The ossicular chain disruption most commonly involves:

• A Incudostapedial joint dislocation ✓
• B Malleus handle fracture
• C Incudomalleolar joint dislocation
• D Stapes footplate fracture

Explanation

In temporal bone trauma, the most common ossicular chain disruption is dislocation of the incudostapedial joint, followed by fracture of the long process of the incus (necrosis of the long process is also common due to poor blood supply). This leads to a significant conductive hearing loss. Incudomalleolar dislocation is less common; stapes footplate fracture causes a mixed or sensorineural loss.

Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.