Normal Tympanic Membrane Documentation
The provided evidence does not contain a specific acronym for documenting normal tympanic membranes in the medical literature reviewed.
Standard Clinical Documentation Approach
The most appropriate approach is to document normal tympanic membrane findings descriptively rather than relying on an acronym, as the guideline literature emphasizes specific characteristics that should be recorded 1, 2.
Key Normal Characteristics to Document
When documenting a normal tympanic membrane examination, the following features should be noted:
- Appearance: The normal tympanic membrane appears pearly gray and translucent 2
- Mobility: Normal mobility shows brisk movement with applied pressure during pneumatic otoscopy 1, 2
- Position: No bulging, retraction, or atelectasis 2
- Clarity: Not opaque or cloudy 1
Documentation Best Practices
Record the tympanic membrane status separately from ear canal findings to ensure clarity in the medical record 2.
The examination should specify:
- Whether the tympanic membrane was fully visualized, partially visualized, or not visualized 2
- The mobility status if pneumatic otoscopy was performed 2
- Any structural abnormalities such as retraction pockets, ossicular erosion, or areas of atelectasis 2
Clinical Context
While no standardized acronym appears in the guideline literature, descriptive documentation is preferred because:
- It provides more clinically useful information than an acronym 1
- Pneumatic otoscopy findings (the gold standard examination technique) require description of mobility characteristics 2
- Distinguishing normal from pathological findings requires specific detail about appearance and function 1, 2
In clinical practice, simply documenting "TM normal bilaterally" or "TM intact with normal mobility" is more universally understood and clinically meaningful than any acronym.