Evaluation of vestibular function in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess vestibular functions in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) with and without sensorineural hearing loss.


METHODS
This was a prospective case study performed at a tertiary referral university hospital. Sixty patients with CSOM were included, and patients with a history of head trauma, diabetes, hypertension, previous ear surgery, use of ototoxic drugs, neurological deficits and suspected fistulae were excluded.


METHODS
The patients underwent basic audiological evaluation, and clinical and instrumental vestibular evaluation. The incidence and extent of vestibular dysfunction in patients with CSOM were analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 42 males and 16 females with a mean age of 29.5 years were included in this study. Forty ears had tubotympanic disease and 19 had cholesteatoma. There were 14 ears with sensorineural hearing loss. A positive history of vertigo was reported in 53.5% of the cases. Rotatory chair abnormalities were found in 70% of the cases, caloric hypofunction was found in 61.6%, and vestibular myogenic evoked potentials were abnormal in 25%. The only positive correlation with vestibular dysfunction was the duration of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The vestibular system is significantly affected in cases with CSOM. Both semicircular canals and the saccule are affected. All patients with long-standing CSOM should be evaluated for vestibular dysfunction irrespective of their hearing levels.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Badr Eldin
BE
Mostafa
Amr Gouda
AG
Shafik
Aly M N
AM
El Makhzangy
Hesham
H
Taha
Heba Mahmoud
HM
Abdel Mageed
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000503:physiopathology; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult