Hearing outcomes after suppurative chronic otitis media surgery.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to compare the hearing outcomes after canal wall up mastoidectomy (CWUM) and canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM). PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety-two patients (74 males, 18 females; mean age 30.1 years; range 9 to 67 years) who were diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) between January 2009 and May 2011 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Based on hospital data, patients were separated into two groups as having mucosal or squamous disease. Patients were also categorized into two groups based on the type of mastoidectomy: CWUM (n=51) and CWDM (n=41). Hearing results between the groups were evaluated using the air-bone gap (ABG) recorded by audiogram before surgery and at three months after ossiculoplasty. Relationship between obtained hearing results and performed ossiculoplasty techniques were also discussed. RESULTS We were able to perform ossiculoplasty in 42.3% (n=39) of patients diagnosed with CSOM. Presurgical ABG in CWUM and CWDM groups were 35.38±10.82 dB and 37.92±5.80 dB, respectively. Postsurgical ABG value was ≤20 dB in 27% of CWUM patients and 7.7% of CWDM patients. Mean hearing gain of patients with active squamous disease was 3.8 dB in CWUM group and 11.9 dB in CWDM group (p<0.5). CONCLUSION The pathology affecting the middle ear had influence on the hearing results of the two groups. Canal wall down mastoidectomy may be a beneficial procedure to improve hearing in patients with CSOM.