[Retrospective study on the hearing improvement and postoperative perforation rates in 121 myringoplasty cases]

Retrospectively analyzed the influences of preoperative acoustic immittance pressure balance tests and intraoperative wet ear findings in myringoplasty surgery results.

One hundred and twenty-one chronic suppurative otitis media patients underwent myringoplasty surgeries were included and divided into functional group and non-functional group according to preoperative acoustic immittance pressure balance tests. Meanwhile, cases were divided into dry ear group and wet ear group according to intraoperative findings. Postoperative hearing improvement and perforation rate were compared between the two groups.

Functional group had 72 cases, including 58 dry ears and 14 wet ears. Non-functional group had 46 cases, including 19 dry ears and 27 wet ears. Postoperative hearing improvement rate in functional group was 85.5% (59/69), and 72.1% (31/43) in non-functional group (χ(2) = 2.230, P = 0.093). Perforation rate in functional group was 16.7% (12/72), significant higher when compared with 2.2% (1/46) in non-functional group (χ(2) = 4.626, P = 0.015). Postoperative hearing improvement rate in dry ear group was 85.3% (64/75), and 71.8% (28/39) in wet ear group (χ(2) = 2.213, P = 0.085) . Perforation rate in dry ear group was 12.8% (10/78), and 7.0% (3/43) in wet ear group (χ(2) = 0.472, P = 0.377).

Non-functional result of preoperative acoustic immittance pressure balance test had significant relationship with the intraoperative wet ear findings. It may result in lower postoperative hearing level, and lower perforation rate. Large sample studies should be carried out in future.