Tympanometric volume: a predictor of success of tympanoplasty in children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if preoperative tympanometric volumes have any predictive value in the success of pediatric tympanoplasty.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review in a tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Success was defined as no evidence of tympanic membrane perforation via otoscopic examination and normal aeration of the middle ear.


METHODS
Fifty-eight pediatric patients who underwent tympanoplasty between 1996 and 2004 were studied; reviewed factors included recent discharge from the ear, perforation size, disease of the contralateral ear, age, gender, middle ear findings, and location of perforation.


RESULTS
The overall success rate was 59 percent. The success rate was 89 percent for patients with a large preoperative tympanometric volume compared with 34 percent for patients with a small volume. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that disease of the contralateral ear and a large tympanometric volume were statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
A large tympanometric volume may be an important factor when considering tympanoplasty in children. In addition, disease of the contralateral ear may be a prognostic indicator.
Merenda
Daniel
D
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9200, Morgantown, WV 26506-9200, USA.
Koike
Kazunari
K
Shafiei
Majid
M
Ramadan
Hassan
H
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009929:Organ Size; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D014433:Tympanoplasty