Results of surgical treatment for chronic noncholesteatomatous otitis media in the pediatric population.

The long-term results of surgery for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma were analyzed in 76 ears of children aged 16 years or less. The mean follow-up period was 6.0 years. Thirty-four ears were subjected to mastoid surgery for chronic otorrhea; at final follow-up examination the disease was found to be cured in all but one patient. Forty-two patients with sequelae to chronic otitis media underwent tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy which was successful in 38 (91%) of these. At follow-up, 84% of the patients had hearing levels of 20 dB or better. Outcome of surgery and hearing results in children were as good as or even better than those obtained in adult patients. Complications of surgery were rare.