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Five-year results for use of single-flanged tympanostomy tubes in children
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Västerås Central Hospital, Sweden. johan.knutsson@ltv.se
Insights
Single-flanged tympanostomy tubes show longer extrusion times and higher retention rates in children compared to other short-term options. Persistent perforation rates were also higher, though most eardrums normalized within five years.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Otology
Background:
- Tympanostomy tubes are commonly used for middle ear effusion in children.
- Short-term single-flanged tubes are frequently selected for pediatric ear procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the five-year outcomes of single-flanged tympanostomy tubes in pediatric patients.
- To assess the time to extrusion, rate of retained tubes, and incidence of persistent perforation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 640 single-flanged tympanostomy tubes used in pediatric patients.
- Analysis of medical records to determine tube extrusion, retention, and perforation rates.
Main Results:
- 36.4% of tubes extruded within 12 months, 71.0% within 24 months.
- 14.1% of tubes were retained long-term (mean removal 38.9 months).
- 4.5% of insertions resulted in persistent perforation; 70.5% of tympanic membranes normalized within five years.
Conclusions:
- Single-flanged tympanostomy tubes demonstrate longer retention and higher perforation rates than other short-term tubes.
- While most tympanic membranes normalize, prolonged retention and perforation warrant consideration in tube selection.
Aims:
To assess the five-year outcome of the use of single-flanged tympanostomy tubes in children, including the time to extrusion, rate of retained tubes and rate of persistent perforation.
Materials And Methods:
The medical records relating to 640 single-flanged tympanostomy tubes intended for short-term use in paediatric patients were retrospectively reviewed.
Results And Analysis:
We found that 36.4 per cent of the tubes had extruded within 12 months and 71.0 per cent within 24 months. Results showed that 14.1 per cent of the tubes had been removed because of prolonged retention, with a mean time to removal of 38.9 months. The time to extrusion was longer and the rate of retained tubes was higher than those reported for several other short-term tubes. We found that 4.5 per cent of tube insertions had resulted in a persistent perforation, a higher percentage than previously reported for other tubes intended for short-term use. Within five years of tube insertion, 70.5 per cent of the tympanic membranes had normalised.
