Hearing Results of Tympanoplasties in 175 Patients with Chronic Otitis Media

Jeong, Yong Soo; Kwak, Hi Boong; Lee, Yeo Jin; Park, Mun Su; Kim, Jae Myeong; Shin, Jung Eun; Park, Hong Ju

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
To report the hearing results of tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
One hundred and seventy-five patients presenting chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma were involved in a retrospective study. Tympanoplasties were performed by the same surgeon over a 30-month period. Audiometric results were reviewed. Audiometric results according to the following techniques were measured: tympanoplasty type 1 (T1), interposition (Si) and/or columella (Sc) over stapedial head, and interposition or columella (Fic) over footplate. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 32 months. Audiological parameters using the average of four frequencies were assessed pre- and post-operatively.
RESULTS
Overall hearing results showed postoperative air-bone gaps (ABG) < or =20 dB in 69% of cases. ABG was closed to within 20 dB in 89% for T1, 67% for Sc, 58% for Si, and 30% for Fic. ABG was closed to within 30 dB in 95% for T1, 67% for Sc, 83% for Si, and 70% for Fic. There was a significant improvement between preoperative and postoperative ABGs. The overall improvement of the air-bone gap was 8+/-13 dB. There was no significant functional difference between different surgical techniques.
CONCLUSION
Our hearing results after tympanoplasties were similar to those from other studies. The hearing results observed in this study confirmed that successful results can be obtained by applying the current principles and approach to ossicular reconstruction.