A Short-Term and Long-Term Follow-up Study on Change of Hearing and Tympanogram after Tympanoplasty Type 1

Ha, Seung Lyong; Chae, Gyu Hak; Yoon, Tae Hyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate improvement in hearing and changes in the tympanogram according to the types of mastoid pneumatization and the mucosal condition of the Eustachian tube orifice after performing tympanoplasty type 1.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Among the patients with chronic otitis media who had received tympanoplasty type 1 at Asan Medical Center from June 1990 to March 1997, sixty five patients were evaluated with pure tone audiometry and tympanometry for a short-term (<6 months) and long-term (>1 year) follow-up period.
RESULTS
Greater improvement in hearing was shown in patients with tympanogram type A as compared to the patients with type B and C in both short-term and long-term follow-ups. Patients who showed normal mastoid pneumatization were found to have type A tympanogram more frequently than patients who showed abnormal mastoid pneumatization. However, the degree of postoperative hearing improvement did not depend on the types of mastoid pneumatization. Mucosal condition of the Eustachian tube orifice had some influence on the outcome of postoperative tympanogram and hearing. Greater improvement in the hearing levels were observed more frequently in the normal mucosa.
CONCLUSION
Postoperative improvement in hearing was closely related to the postoperative change in the tympanogram. Postoperative hearing results and tympanograms were mainly influenced by the mucosal condition of the Eustachian tube orifice. Relatively greater improvement in hearing was observed in the long-term follow-up compared to the short-term follow-up. However, in order to reach any conclusion on this matter, a longer follow-up period and closer observation would be required.