The effect of timpanoplasty on tinnitus in patients with conductive hearing loss: a six month follow-up.
Tympanoplasty is done to eradicate ear pathology and to restore the conductive hearing mechanism (eardrum and ossicles). Some patients, however, do not tolerate tinnitus and question physicians about the results of surgery when tinnitus persists.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the progression of tinnitus in patients with conductive hearing loss after tympanoplasty.


METHODS
a prospective cohort study.


METHODS
23 consecutive patients with tinnitus due to chronic otitis media underwent tympanoplasty. The patients underwent a medical and audiological protocol for tinnitus before and after tympanoplasty.


RESULTS
82.6% of patients had improvement or elimination of tinnitus after tympanoplasty The mean score of postoperative intolerance to tinnitus (1.91 for 30 and 180 days) was significantly different from preoperative scores (5.26). As to hearing loss, patients improved medically 30 and 180 days after surgery (3.65 and 2.91) compared to the preoperative condition (6.56). Audiometry revealed improvement at all frequencies from 0.25 to 6KHz, except at 8KHz. The air-bone gap was closed or was within 10dB in 14 cases (61%). An intact tympanic membrane was achieved in 78% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Aside from the classical improvement of hearing loss, tympanoplasty also offers good control of tinnitus.
Otolaryngology, USP. draadrianalima@hotmail.com
Adriana da Silva
Ada S
Lima
Tanit Ganz
TG
Sanchez
Maria Flávia
MF
Bonadia Moraes
Silvia Cristina
SC
Batezati Alves
Ricardo Ferreira
RF
Bento
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty