Otitis techniques to improve practice.

Successful management of otitis externa requires recognition of changes in the anatomy and physiology of the external and middle ear, as well as the adequate tools and examinations to detect changes from normal. Otoscopy and methods for assessing the normalcy of the tympanum, collection of samples for cytologic evaluation or culture, and myringotomy are diagnostic techniques important in practice. Treatment tubes and intralesional triamcinolone injections are techniques that improve the response in some cases.