Comparison of frequency-specific hearing outcomes after endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty

Abstract

Background Hearing results of endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty have been compared using the average pure tone threshold which could conceal subtle differences at a specific frequency. Objectives To compare frequency-specific hearing outcomes of endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty. Material and methods The study included 42 patients who underwent endoscopic or microscopic type I tympanoplasty. The medical charts of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated the pure tone audiometry at 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, including bone conduction (BC), air conduction (AC) and air-bone gap (ABG) before and after the surgery. The main outcome measures were frequency-specific pre- and post-operative hearing thresholds and the corresponding changes. We also assessed the graft success rate and surgical complications. Results BC revealed a significant aggravation at 4000 Hz in microscopic tympanoplasty group, but no significant differences between the two groups at any frequencies. Both groups showed improvements in AC and ABG at all frequencies, without significant differences between the two groups at any single frequency. The maximum improvement of AC and ABG was found at 250 Hz. The graft success rate and operative complications were also similar. Conclusions and significance The frequency-specific hearing outcomes of endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty are similar.