Melanie Duval1, J Fredrik Grimmer2, Jeremy Meier2, Harlan R Muntz2, Albert H Park2. 1. Division of Otolaryngology, University of Utah, 50 N Medical Drive, SOM 3C120, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. Electronic address: melanie.duval@muhc.mcgill.ca. 2. Division of Otolaryngology, University of Utah, 50 N Medical Drive, SOM 3C120, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Determine whether the outcome of tympanoplasty in preschool children is different from that of older children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Retrospective review of children having undergone a primary tympanoplasty by 4 surgeons for a tympanic membrane perforation between 2002 and 2013. RESULTS: Data from 50 children age 2-4, 130 children age 5-7 and 105 children age 8-13 years old were reviewed. Median follow-up was 7.5 months. On crude analysis, the incidence of anatomical success was not significantly different between the different age groups (p=0.38), the success rate was respectively 69.4%, 68.5% and 79.1% with an overall rate of 72.5%. 5.9% of all children required later insertion of tympanostomy tubes, 10.2% in preschool children. The post-operative audiology results were similar for all groups with a mean improvement of 9dB in the air-bone gap. When limiting the analysis to the 155 children having at least 6 months of follow-up, the rate of success was respectively 50.0%, 60.8% and 74.0% (p=0.10). After multivariate analysis controlling for the effect of surgeon, approach and etiology, the odds ratio of perforation was respectively 5.48, 2.27 and 1.00 for the different age groups. CONCLUSION: Children younger than 4 years of age have the worst outcome after tympanoplasty. It remains uncertain whether the benefits of hearing improvement and quality of life may outweigh that of a high rate of a residual, usually smaller, perforation. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and delineate the patient characteristics and technique most likely to lead to successful results.
OBJECTIVES: Determine whether the outcome of tympanoplasty in preschool children is different from that of older children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Retrospective review of children having undergone a primary tympanoplasty by 4 surgeons for a tympanic membrane perforation between 2002 and 2013. RESULTS: Data from 50 children age 2-4, 130 children age 5-7 and 105 children age 8-13 years old were reviewed. Median follow-up was 7.5 months. On crude analysis, the incidence of anatomical success was not significantly different between the different age groups (p=0.38), the success rate was respectively 69.4%, 68.5% and 79.1% with an overall rate of 72.5%. 5.9% of all children required later insertion of tympanostomy tubes, 10.2% in preschool children. The post-operative audiology results were similar for all groups with a mean improvement of 9dB in the air-bone gap. When limiting the analysis to the 155 children having at least 6 months of follow-up, the rate of success was respectively 50.0%, 60.8% and 74.0% (p=0.10). After multivariate analysis controlling for the effect of surgeon, approach and etiology, the odds ratio of perforation was respectively 5.48, 2.27 and 1.00 for the different age groups. CONCLUSION:Children younger than 4 years of age have the worst outcome after tympanoplasty. It remains uncertain whether the benefits of hearing improvement and quality of life may outweigh that of a high rate of a residual, usually smaller, perforation. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and delineate the patient characteristics and technique most likely to lead to successful results.