Postoperative change in wideband absorbance after tympanoplasty in chronic suppurative otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the wideband absorbance (WBA) of reconstructed TM comparing with perforated and normal TM, and to investigate the efficacy of WBA to predict postoperative hearing outcome.


METHODS
Ninety-eight adults (128 ears) with normal TM and 40 patients (40 ears) who were diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and underwent tympanoplasty type 1 were enrolled. Pure tone audiometry and WBA were measured before and 6 and 12 months after surgery. Finally, only 29 patients in CSOM group completed all the tests.


RESULTS
Significant differences in WBA were observed between normal ears, CSOM, and reconstructed ears at middle to high frequencies. During follow-up, absorbance decreased at low frequencies and increased at middle to high. Significant positive correlation at low to middle frequency was observed between change in air-bone gaps (ABG) and absorbance at corresponding frequencies.


CONCLUSION
WBA in patients with CSOM was significantly different from normal TM, and a significant change in WBA was observed after tympanoplasty with improvement of ABG. WBA may be a useful tool for monitoring the postoperative change in absorbance of sound energy in the middle ear.
['Park|Hyun Woo|HW|', 'Ahn|Jungmin|J|', 'Kang|Min Woong|MW|', 'Cho|Yang-Sun|YS|']
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D016022:Case-Control Studies D002908:Chronic Disease D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009225:Myringoplasty D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative D016896:Treatment Outcome D055815:Young Adult
Tympanoplasty Otitis media Hearing loss Impedance