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Published on: January 26, 2024
Preoperative Predictors in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media for Ossicular Chain Discontinuity: A Cross-Sectional
Rashid Sheikh1, Hassan Haidar, Hassanin Abdulkarim
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Objective:
Ossicular discontinuity may result from chronic suppurative otitis media and is usually detected intraoperatively. Our objective is to determine whether a preoperative audiogram can preoperatively predict the presence or absence of ossicular discontinuity.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was prospectively run on our patients, aged 12-75 years, ultimately operated on for chronic suppurative otitis media. Preoperative audiograms were analyzed to measure frequency-specific air-bone gap (ABG) cutoff values. Intraoperatively, ossicular chain integrity was carefully checked. Logistic regression analysis was done to obtain a predictive model.
Results:
A total of 270 patients (306 ears) were included. Frequency-specific ABG cutoff values can predict ossicular discontinuity, namely: high ABGs at 1,000 Hz (>27.5 dB) and 2,000 Hz (>17.5 dB) are the most reliable variables associated with ossicular discontinuity.
Conclusion:
Preoperative audiograms can predict the presence of ossicular discontinuity in chronic suppurative otitis media. Large ABGs at both 1,000 and 2,000 Hz can predict ossicular discontinuity with a great degree of certainty.
