LONG-TERM HEARING RESULTS OF ONE-STAGE TYMPANOPLASTY FOR CHRONIC OTITIS-MEDIA

A study of 277 ears with chronic otitis media undergoing onestage tympanoplasty has been carried out. The mean follow-up period was 6.4 years. Ears with intact ossicular chains were excluded. Ossiculoplasty was performed using autologous ossicles or cortical bone. Mean hearing gain was 10.8 dB. Closure of the postoperative air-bone gap to within 20 dB was achieved in 51 % of cases. The best results were obtained in ears with intact stapes, while cholesteatomatous ears showed poorer results than other chronic ears. The present findings show that autologous ossicle and cortical bone are still suitable for ossicular reconstruction in chronic ears, especially when one-stage surgery is preferred.