Hearing assessment and status of tympanic membrane pre and post-operated tympanoplasty in cases of CSOM.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare assessment of hearing by PTA and status of tympanic membrane by oto-endoscope, pre-operative and post-operative tympanoplasty. Study Design: Retrospective/ Comparative study. Setting: Two different hospitals in Karachi. 1-Social Security Landhi Hospital Karachi. 2- Al-Tibri medical College & Hospital, Old Thana, Malir, Karachi. Period: July 2017 to June 2018. Material & Methods: 76 patients were included for this study with both genders who had dry tympanic membrane perforations. Age ranges between 18 to 40 years. Made two groups A (pre-operative and B (post-operative). In group-A, examined tympanic membrane perforations. 45 patients had small size (25%) perforations, 15 medium size (50%) and 16 subtotal (75%). Hearing assessment done by Pure tone Audiometry (PTA). After 1. 2 and 3 months post-tympanoplasty, examined grafted tympanic membrane and compared pre-operated status of tympanic membrane with post-operated status of tympanic membrane. PTA done after 3 months and compared it with pre-operated PTA. Results: Examination of tympanic membrane before tympanoplasty performed, perforations noted in all patients with different sizes in their tympanic membrane. PTA (pure tone audiometry) advised before tympanoplasty to all patients. Weber test performed on 1^st post-operated day, it was lateralized towards operated ear which indicate the safety of inner ear. Post-operated 1, 2 and 3 months examined tympanic membrane with oto-endoscope. Intact grafted tympanic membrane seen in 70 patients after 1 months. After 2 months 72 patients had intact grafted tympanic membrane and after 3 months 73 patients out of 76 patients had intact grafted tympanic membrane. PTA also advised after 3 months of tympanoplasty and compared it with pre-operated pure tone audiometry (PTA). Air conduction (AC) decreased 15.39dB after tympanoplasty. AB-gap reduction 13.95dB seen in 73 patients which showed hearing improvement. P value is < 0.001 significant. Conclusion: Tympanoplasty is a good and safe procedure for hearing improvement by reduction of AB-gap as well as provide protection of middle ear mucosa from infections due to closure of perforations of tympanic membranes.