Tympanoplasty with and without mastoidectomy for non-cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media

Abstract

Objectives: Cases of non-cholesteatomatous chronic otits media (COM) were reviewed to determine whether mastoidectomy is helpful when combined with tympanoplasty for these conditions. Study design: A retrospective analysis of 251 ears with non-cholesteatomatous COM operated on by one surgeon (Y.M.) in an 11-year period was conducted. Methods: Patients in group A (n = 147) were treated by tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy. Patients in group B (n = 104) were operated on without mastoidectomy. Results: Graft success rates were 90.5% in group A and 93.3% in group B. There was no statistically significant difference. Graft success rates of discharging ears were 90.0% in group A and 85.7% in group B. Graft success rates of dry ears were 90.7% in group A and 94.4% in group B. There was no statistically significant difference between discharging ears and dry ears. The rates of the postoperative air–bone gap within 20dB were 81.6% in group A and 90.4% in group B, without a statistically significant difference. Conclusions: Mastoidectomy is not helpful in tympanoplasty for non-cholesteatomatous COM, even if the ear is discharging.