Status of contralateral ear in unilateral chronic otitis media

Abstract

<ul><li><p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The aim of this study was to clinically, audiologically and radiologically examine the contralateral ear, and compare the findings with squamous and mucosal type of chronic otitis media<span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A prospective study of 15 months between April 2015 to July 2016 was conducted in the Otorhinolaryngology department, enrolling 80 patients with unilateral chronic otitis media. The contralateral ear was defined as the ear with no tympanic membrane perforation. Otoscopy, pure tone audiometry and X-ray mastoid or HRCT temporal bone were done on the patients. The results were recorded and analysed<span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Descriptive statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 22 in Windows 7. It was seen that most of the Tympanic membranes were abnormal, with contralateral ear of squamous disease showing more abnormality. Retraction and thinning were the most common abnormalities. And 14.3% cases of pars tensa retractions in squamous cases were grade 4 retractions. Mastoids were mostly sclerosed or diploeic, and soft tissue was present in the mastoid antrum in a few cases. Hearing loss was seen in contralateral ear of 47% of squamosal disease and in 30.5 % of mucosal disease<span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The contralateral ear is now, what the diseased ear was yesterday. The contralateral ear shows unmistakable predilection towards developing chronic otitis media in the future<span lang="EN-IN">.</span></p></li></ul>