Improvement in bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the causes of bone conduction threshold impairment associated with middle ear pathoses and the factors influencing improvement in bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty.


METHODS
The records of 98 consecutive patients with unilateral chronic otitis media who underwent tympanoplasty were reviewed. Pre-operatively, 15 dB or more depression of bone conduction threshold at least in 2 frequencies between 500 and 6000 Hz was considered to be significant. Similarly in the postoperative period, 15 dB or more improvement of bone conduction threshold at least in 2 frequencies between 500 and 6000 Hz was regarded as significant.


RESULTS
Twelve (12.5%) of 98 cases were found to have depressed bone conduction threshold; 6 of 12 cases had improved bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
In cases with cholesteatoma and extensive middle ear disease, successful results could be achieved after tympanoplasty disregarding the air-bone gap and deteriorated bone conduction threshold.


CONCLUSIONS
Bone conduction threshold may improve after tympanoplasty.
Tüz
M
M
Süleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, ENT-Head & Neck Department, Isparta, Turkey. mutuz@hotmail.com
Doğru
H
H
Uygur
K
K
Gedikli
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001844:Bone Conduction; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty