A Study on Morphometric Changes of the Pinna Following Ear Surgery

Morphometry of pinna may change following ear surgeries. This study gives information about postoperative changes following ear surgeries. This study aims to measure the variation of ear morphology following surgery and to correlate the type of surgery with post-operative variations. Eighty patients with Chronic Otitis Media(COM) undergoing surgery by post aural approach were grouped into Modified Radical Mastoidectomy (MRM), Cortical Mastoidectomy + Tympanoplasty (CM + TM) and Tympanoplasty groups(TM). The MRM, CM + TM and TM groups had 14, 46 and 20 participants respectively. Various morphometric measurements were taken pre and post operatively. In all groups, the mean Concho-Mastoid Angle (CMA) was increased post operatively, with increase of 11.1 degrees in MRM (p value-0.002), 8.9 degrees in CM + TM (p value-0.000) and 4.8 degrees (p value- 0.657) in TM group. Similarly, the Cepahlo-auricular distances (D1 and D2) showed statistically significant changes in MRM and CM + TM groups (p value < 0.05). Mean CMA of MRM group compared with other groups did not show any statistically significant difference. However, when the CMA of CM + TM group was compared with TM group showed significant difference of 14.53 degree (p value 0.002). Similarly, the D1 and D2 showed statistically significant changes between the CM + TM and TM groups (p value 0.005 and 0.000 respectively). Prominence of pinna following ear surgery is a not a myth. It happens mostly in cases requiring drilling of the mastoid, rather than Tympanoplasty alone. This needs to be explained to the patient beforehand to prevent any confusion post operatively.