Abstract
Background: Drill and surgical tools can cause noise induced hearing loss when used on or adjacent to the ossicular chain and stapes footplate or while working on the mastoid bone. Therefore the drill generated noise has been incriminated as a cause of sensorineural hearing loss in the operated ear. Objective: This study has been undertaken to estimate the proportion of sensorineural hearing loss following middle ear surgery and to assess the bone conduction thresholds of operated ear following middle ear surgery at different follow up periods. Methods: 100 cases of chronic suppurative otitis media posted for middle ear exploration surgery were included in the study. Results: Sensorineural hearing loss was present in 3 cases out of 100 cases (3%) after undergoing mastoid surgery. There was a mean increase in bone conduction thresholds of 0.75 dB at 500 Hz, 1.4 dB at 1 kHz, 1.7 dB at 2 kHz and 2.7 dB at 4 kHz at 6th month of follow up period after surgery with statistical significance at 2 kHz (p = 0.011) and 4 kHz (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Post mastoidectomy hearing loss is of high frequency in nature.
Highlights
Mastoid drilling is an inevitable part of mastoid exploration surgeries
This study has been undertaken to estimate the proportion of sensorineural hearing loss following middle ear surgery and to assess the bone conduction thresholds of operated ear following middle ear surgery at different follow up periods
Cases were classified as active squamous (AS), active mucosal (AM), inactive squamous (IS) and inactive mucosal disease (IM) according to the disease type
Summary
Mastoid drilling is an inevitable part of mastoid exploration surgeries. Surgeons have always been concerned about the detrimental infliction on hearing while operating on the mastoid. Mastoid exploration surgeries involve use of instruments, vacuum suction, use of drill work with metallic burr and ossicular manipulations which all can lead to exposure of the labyrinth to excessive sound levels as well as vibrations which may, in turn, cause damage to the inner ear structures [3]. The drill generated noise has been incriminated as a cause of sensorineural hearing loss in the operated ear. Objective: This study has been undertaken to estimate the proportion of sensorineural hearing loss following middle ear surgery and to assess the bone conduction thresholds of operated ear following middle ear surgery at different follow up periods. Methods: 100 cases of chronic suppurative otitis media posted for middle ear exploration surgery were included in the study. Conclusion: Post mastoidectomy hearing loss is of high frequency in nature
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