Clinical assessment of gustatory function before and after middle ear surgery: a prospective study with a two-year follow-up period.
OBJECTIVE
Middle ear surgery can affect gustatory function because of the course of the chorda tympani nerve (CTN) close to the tympanic membrane. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sense of taste before and after middle ear surgery with a test suitable for clinical routine. Moreover, subjective complaints were assessed over a relatively long period of time.


METHODS
Forty-seven patients (26 female, 21 male; mean age, 42 years) were investigated before and 4 days after surgery on both sides of the anterior part of the tongue. Self-assessment of taste function was performed by visual analog scales.


RESULTS
The mean (+/- SD) taste scores significantly decreased on the side ipsilateral to the operated ear in patients with major manipulation of the CTN (12.0 +/- 4.5 before surgery and 6.9 +/- 4.5 after surgery; p < 0.001), whereas no significant changes were measured in patients with minor manipulation of the CTN (12.5 +/- 3.1 before surgery and 11.2 +/- 3.9 after surgery; p = 0.14). Self-assessed ratings of taste function significantly decreased after surgery in all patients (p < 0.001). Reassessment of subjective taste function after 2 years indicated no persisting complaints.


CONCLUSIONS
Depending on the amount of manipulation of the CTN, taste function is decreased after surgery. However, long-lasting changes of gustatory function seem to be rare.
Mueller
Christian A
CA
Medical University Vienna, Dept of Otorhinolaryngology, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Wien, Austria.
Khatib
Saher
S
Naka
Asami
A
Temmel
Andreas F P
AF
Hummel
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult