Tympanoplasty: prudent considerations of silent otitis media and interactions of middle ear and inner ear.
Otitis media is a common problem, often with simple, minimally invasive solutions; however, a small subset of patients progress to chronic disease despite provision of standard therapies. The flexible approach to tympanoplasty is a prudent consideration for patients with chronic otitis media, especially children. This article discusses the findings and implications of silent otitis media, interactions of the middle ear and inner ear, and obstructive sites in the middle ear cleft. Tympanoplasty by the flexible approach is described in the context of these findings.
Vambutas
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Department of Otolaryngology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA.
Paparella
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D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*