What is the main role of the otoscope?

  Modern endoscopic technology has developed by leaps and bounds, and has reached the point where “there is a mirror if there is a cavity”, and the “small cavity and deep cavity” in ENT is where the endoscope comes into play. Many places already have tympanic endoscopes and even middle ear and inner ear endoscopes, which are forming minimally invasive ear surgery. Tympanic endoscopy has obvious advantages over conventional frontoscopy, tympanoscopy, and electro-otoscopy in that it can reach deep into the ear canal for close observation, with a large field of view, high image quality, high magnification, and the ability to see many details, as well as perform some surgeries under the endoscope. In addition, the current development of the rule of law makes it increasingly important to leave objective evidence in clinical examinations. According to the “Standards for Identification of Human Minor Injuries (for Trial Implementation)” issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice, Chapter 2, Head and Neck Injuries, Article 11, Ear Injuries, both traumatic tympanic membrane perforation and external ear canal injury resulting in external ear canal stenosis are listed as minor injuries, so the above objective findings, especially traumatic A tympanic membrane perforation often requires legal evaluation, and a tympanic membrane endoscope can take photographs that not only record objective clinical information, but also serve as the most powerful evidence for forensic evaluation.  In adults, the average length of the external ear canal is 2.5 to 3.5 cm, with a diameter of about 8 mm. Although the isthmus of the external ear canal is relatively narrow, a 2.7 mm endoscopic examination is not difficult, and a high-quality photograph of the tympanic membrane can be obtained by adjusting the focal length. In fact, if the ear canal is relatively wide and straight, it is possible to take pictures at the mouth of the ear canal. The direction and depth of access should be controlled to avoid discomfort and injury to the patient.  Together with the instruments of ear microsurgery, treatment of the ear canal, tympanic membrane and middle ear diseases can be performed through the external ear canal, and even some surgeries that used to be done only under the operating microscope can be completed. It is foreseeable that the combination of endoscopy and microscope will bring a revolution to the field of otology.