Hearing loss following myringoplasty - implications for informed consent

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Audiology

Background:

• Myringoplasty is a common surgical procedure to repair perforated eardrums.
• While successful closure rates are reported, post-operative hearing deterioration is an under-published complication.
• This audit investigates hearing loss following myringoplasty.

Observation:

• A six-year retrospective analysis of 187 myringoplasty procedures was conducted.
• Electronic patient records were used to identify patients with post-operative hearing loss.
• Hearing loss exceeding 10 dB was specifically scrutinized.

Findings:

• A significant number of patients (23.53%) experienced reduced hearing thresholds post-myringoplasty.
• In 3.74% of cases, the hearing loss was greater than 10 dB.
• No clear predictive factors were identified, though posterior perforations and ossicular manipulation were considered.

Implications:

• Hearing loss following myringoplasty is a notable complication that occurs more frequently than previously reported.
• The findings suggest that the informed consent process for myringoplasty may need revision to include the risk of hearing reduction.
• Further research into predictive factors and mitigation strategies for post-myringoplasty hearing loss is warranted.