Retrospective air bone gap evaluation of patients with tympanic membrane central perforation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate hearing recovery and air-bone gap (ABG) before and after tympanoplasty surgery in patients with tympanic membrane central perforation.

METHODS: Histories and audiological assessments of 160 cases (total of 26 ears from 22 patients; 11 men and 11 women) from patients who had undergone tympanoplasty surgery and hearing reconstruction due to tympanic membrane central perforation were evaluated. Pre-postoperative audiograms and the pure tone, air-bone hearing thresholds and ABG gains were evaluated.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.6 years (± 16.04). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 13.4 months (± 15.5). The mean preoperative ABG was 25.36 dB (± 9.9) and postoperative ABG was 17.36 dB (± 11.68) (p = 0.001). When four groups were compared before surgery and after surgery period as 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years and 2 years in terms of pre- and postoperative ABG values, no statistically significant difference was observed (p>0.05). All patients were divided into three groups: < 20 years of age; between the ages of 21-40; and, >41 years of age, and no statistically significant difference were found between the groups (p> 0.05). Surgeries of the patients 21-40 years of age were more successful (ABG gain) than other age groups. No statistically significant gender differences were found in ABG averages (p = 0.33), but clinical results were significantly better in women as compared with men.

CONCLUSION: In patients with central tympanic membrane perforation, tympanoplasty surgery with temporal fascia is beneficial in terms of hearing recovery.