International Licensing Examination (ILE) Practice Test

What condition is characterized by the ossicular chain coming apart, often due to head trauma?

1. Ossicular fixation

2. Ossicular discontinuity

3. Tympanosclerosis

4. Cholesteatoma

The correct answer is: Ossicular discontinuity

The condition characterized by the ossicular chain coming apart, often as a result of head trauma, is ossicular discontinuity. This condition occurs when one or more of the ossicles—the tiny bones in the middle ear that are critical for sound conduction—become separated or dislocated. Head trauma can impact the delicate structure of these bones, causing a break in the continuity of the chain, which can lead to hearing loss. Understanding the mechanisms of ossicular discontinuity is important, as this condition stands in contrast to ossicular fixation, where the bones become immobile rather than separated. Tympanosclerosis involves the thickening or scarring of the tympanic membrane and is typically not associated with trauma, while cholesteatoma is a growth that can erode bone and adversely affect the ear's structures but is distinct from the physical separation of the ossicular chain seen in discontinuity.