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Postinflammatory medial meatal fibrosis: early and late surgical outcomes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 November 2013

A Ghani  and
M C F Smith
A Ghani*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Worcester Hospital, UK
M C F Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Worcester Hospital, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss Assia Ghani, 26 Marlborough Road, Newport, Gwent NP19 0BX, Wales E-mail: ghanias@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objectives:

To evaluate the primary and long-term surgical outcomes of patients with postinflammatory medial meatal fibrosis.

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted of 14 ears (in 12 patients) with postinflammatory medial meatal fibrosis managed surgically. Outcome measures were primary (i.e. less than six months) and long-term (i.e. greater than five years) closure of the air–bone gap, and the incidence of otorrhoea and restenosis.

Results:

At primary review, the mean air–bone gap ± standard deviation had decreased from 29.9 ± 11.6 dB to 12 ± 8.4 dB (p < 0.0006). Seven (50 per cent) ears had closure of the air–bone gap to within 10 dB. However, for the 9 ears receiving long-term review, the mean air–bone gap ± standard deviation increased to 19.3 ± 15.2 dB; there was no significant difference between this result and pre-operative values (p = 0.06). Of the 9 long-term review ears, 3 (33 per cent) showed closure of the air–bone gap to within 10 dB. Recurrent otorrhoea was the most common complication, occurring in 5 of the 9 long-term review ears (56 per cent); in addition, 3 (33 per cent) of these 9 ears developed restenosis.

Conclusion:

Over time, the success of surgery for postinflammatory medial meatal fibrosis diminishes. This was demonstrated in the present study by progressive post-operative hearing decline and a high prevalence of otorrhoea and restenosis.

Keywords

Ear CanalHearing Loss, ConductiveEar DiseasesOtitis ExternaFibrosisTreatment Outcome

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 12 , December 2013 , pp. 1160 - 1168
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

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Footnotes

Presented at the 9th International Conference on Cholesteatoma and Ear Surgery, 3–7 June 2012, Nagasaki, Japan

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