Final answer:
The main purpose of excising a middle ear lesion is to remove a tumor from the middle ear. This procedure is necessary for the removal of potentially harmful growths. Cochlear implants, which restore hearing by directly stimulating the auditory nerve, are used in cases of cochlear damage, not middle ear bone damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of excising a lesion in the middle ear is primarily to remove a tumor from the middle ear. This procedure is necessary when a lesion, which could be benign or malignant, is identified and needs to be surgically removed to prevent further complications, such as hearing loss or the spread of cancer. It does not directly aim to repair a perforated eardrum, treat chronic ear infections, or improve hearing, although these conditions can be related or occur concurrently with middle ear lesions.
In contrast, a cochlear implant is a device used to restore hearing for those with nonfunctional cochlea, by bypassing damaged structures and directly stimulating the auditory nerve. It's effective for hearing loss resulting from the absence or loss of hair cells in the organ of Corti, but not for an abnormal auditory nerve or damaged bones of the middle ear.
Acute otitis media (AOM) is an infection of the middle ear, often leading to earaches in young children, and is a common reason for antibiotic prescriptions in the United States. Lastly, the middle ear's function is to convert sound into mechanical vibrations which are transmitted to the cochlea, and this process is crucial for our ability to hear.