Thermal injury in endoscopic ear surgery between reality and fiction

Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) is engaged nearly in all otology procedures in this era. The widespread application is faced by raised drawbacks that EES can induce thermal injury to the inner ear structures.

This retrospective study investigates the effect of endoscopic tympanoplasty on the postoperative sensorineural element of hearing and other inner ear functions. Cases of endoscopic tympanoplasty admitted to the tertiary referral center in the period of the study were included. Important audiologic data were collected including the preoperative and postoperative bone conduction threshold and air bone gap. The total endoscopic usage time during surgery was collected. Appropriate statistical testing was performed using SPSS 20.

The study included 51 patients who had endoscopic tympanoplasty. The mean age was (33.65 ± 10.840) years. The study showed no statistically significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative bone conduction threshold. In addition, Pearson correlation test showed no statistical association between the total endoscopic usage time and the postoperative bone conduction threshold. No significant vertigo nor facial nerve affection were observed in the postoperative period.

Endoscopic tympanoplasty as an example of EES does not affect the inner ear structures, clinically described as it does not affect the postoperative sensorineural hearing, facial nerve function nor the balance.