title: Retrospective air bone gap evaluation of patients with tympanic membrane central perforation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate hearing recovery and air-bone gap (ABG) before and after tympanoplasty surgery in patients with tympanic membrane central perforation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histories and audiological assessments of 160 cases (total of 26 ears from 22 patients; 11 men and 11 women) from patients who had undergone tympanoplasty surgery and hearing reconstruction due to tympanic membrane central perforation were evaluated. Pre-postoperative audiograms and the pure tone, air-bone hearing thresholds and ABG gains were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 38.6 years (± 16.04). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 13.4 months (± 15.5). The mean preoperative ABG was 25.36 dB (± 9.9) and postoperative ABG was 17.36 dB (± 11.68) (p = 0.001). When four groups were compared before surgery and after surgery period as 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years and 2 years in terms of pre- and postoperative ABG values, no statistically significant difference was observed (p>0.05). All patients were divided into three groups: < 20 years of age; between the ages of 21-40; and, >41 years of age, and no statistically significant difference were found between the groups (p> 0.05). Surgeries of the patients 21-40 years of age were more successful (ABG gain) than other age groups. No statistically significant gender differences were found in ABG averages (p = 0.33), but clinical results were significantly better in women as compared with men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with central tympanic membrane perforation, tympanoplasty surgery with temporal fascia is beneficial in terms of hearing recovery.
authors.affiliation: . Email@email.com.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Küçükkavruk
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Temügan
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unsal
authors.forename: Nebi Mustafa
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gündüz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult