Efficacy of endoscopic full-thickness cartilage-perichondrium complex tympanoplasty in the treatment of adhesive otitis media: a retrospective study.

Background: Adhesive otitis media (AdOM) is a common residual disease and surgical treatment for AdOM remains controversial.

Objectives: The aims of present study are to investigate the feasibility and short-term effectiveness of endoscopic full-thickness cartilage-perichondrium complex tympanoplasty in the AdOM.

Methods: This was a retrospective study on AdOM patients. Thirty-four patients were enrolled and followed for 1 year. Pure tone audiometry at pre and post-surgery were performed. The Chinese version of the chronic otitis media outcome test 15 (COMOT-15) was applied to assess symptoms of the patients.

Results: All operated ears of the patients had dry ears at 1-year follow-up. The mean PTA decreased from 50.21 ± 11.08 to 37.06 ± 11.41 dB HL postoperatively (p < 0.0001), and the mean air-bone gap decreased from 24.85 ± 10.56 to 16.97 ± 7.68 dB HL postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Further, the average total score of COMOT-15 decreased from 30.56 ± 14.90 to 12.79 ± 12.53 postoperatively (p < 0.0001). The average symptomatic score of COMOT-15 decreased from 18.29 ± 9.23 to 7.38 ± 6.81 (p < 0.0001), and the average psychological score of COMOT-15 decreased from 12.24 ± 6.90 to 5.41 ± 6.19 respectively (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Endoscopic full-thickness cartilage-perichondrium complex tympanoplasty is effective in treating AdOM. A prospective study is needed in the future.