Which among the following is also called otitis externa?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The question refers to a severe complication known as malignant (or necrotizing) otitis externa.
This condition is an invasive infection that spreads from the soft tissue of the external auditory canal into the adjacent bone.
The external auditory canal is anatomically situated within the temporal bone of the skull.
Therefore, malignant otitis externa is clinically synonymous with osteomyelitis of the temporal bone.

Option A: The parietal bone forms the upper sides and roof of the cranium and does not contain the external auditory canal.
Option B: The frontal bone forms the forehead and the upper part of the eye sockets; it does not house the ear canal.
Option C: The occipital bone forms the back and base of the skull and is not associated with the external ear structures.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Complications of otitis externa and the anatomical location of the ear as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must maintain a high index of suspicion for malignant otitis externa in high-risk patients (e.g., older adults with diabetes) presenting with severe ear pain unresponsive to standard treatments for simple otitis externa.
Key assessment findings to report urgently include persistent, deep-seated otalgia (especially at night), purulent otorrhea, and the appearance of granulation tissue in the ear canal.
What if? If a patient with otitis externa develops new-onset facial drooping or weakness on the same side, the nurse must suspect progression to malignant otitis externa with facial nerve (CN VII) involvement. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate escalation of care.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question's components. The stem mentions 'otitis externa' (an ear infection), and the options are all 'osteomyelitis' (a bone infection).
This structure implies you need to identify which bone is affected when an ear infection becomes invasive.
Recall the basic anatomy of the skull and the location of the ear. The external ear canal is housed within a specific bone.
Identify the temporal bone as the part of the skull that contains the structures of the external, middle, and inner ear.
Connect the infection (otitis externa) to the anatomical location (temporal bone) to arrive at the correct complication (temporal bone osteomyelitis).
Eliminate the other options (parietal, frontal, occipital) as they are not anatomically related to the external ear canal.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Complications of otitis externa and the anatomical location of the ear.
Stem keywords: otitis externa, osteomyelitis
Lead-in keywords: also called

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 1807-1809

Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.