Hartmann's Aural Speculum & Its Uses - ENT Instrument For MBBS Viva

Hartmann's Aural Speculum is a funnel instrument that you may commonly see in ENT OPD.

Identification of the instrument, its uses, an idea about the procedure are important for an MBBS student to know before appearing for viva in practical examination.

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Hartmann's Aural Speculum uses.

This instrument is used to straighten the external auditory canal to examine the tympanic membrane.

Hartmann's Aural Speculum has two uses:

1. Diagnostic uses
2. Therapeutic uses

Diagnostic uses.

This instrument is used to examine the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane.

Hint: You should have knowledge about the normal features of external auditory canal and tympanic membrane (TM) along with its some pathological changes.

✅ What is the normal colour of the tympanic membrane?

Pearly grey or white.

(Know that examiner may ask about different types of perforations of the TM)

Therapeutic uses of Hartmann's Aural Speculum.

Hartmann's Aural Speculum has the following uses for therapeutic purposes:

1. Aural toileting in case of CSOM (Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media).
2. Removal of foreign body.
3. Wax removal.
4. During surgeries like: (a) Myringotomy, (b) Myringoplasty and (d) Stapedectomy.
5. Can be used as dilator in stenosis of external auditory canal.

Probable questions from these points: Stringing in case of foreign body, different types of incision in Myringotomy, Myringoplasty vs Tympanoplasty, etc.

✅ How will you use this instrument?

Pull the pinna upward, backwards and outward in case of adult. (*Why?)

In case of children, pull the pinna downward and outward.

* What is the direction of external auditory canal (EAC)?

Bony part - Downward and Forward.

Cartilaginous part - Upward and Backward.

Some high yield points related to Hartmann's Aural Speculum.

• The most likely condition when a cone of light cannot be seen is Acute Otitis Media.
• Exostosis and Osteotoma are the diseases of the bony part of EAC.

Save this instrument brief in pdf format in your device from here.

PDF Aural Speculum.pdf Download