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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-958579
Erosion of Ossicles in Chronic Otitis Media
Background: Chronic otitis media may affect ossicular chain continuity with serious consequences in hearing. Ossicles are often eroded in chronic otitis media, sometimes without cholesteatoma.
Aim: This paper will assess ossicular erosion in operated ears for chronic otitis media.
Material and Methods: We reviewed 55 cases—23 females (41.8%) and 32 males (58.2%)—operated in our department with modified radical mastoidectomy and type III tympanoplasty in 24 cases (43.6%), modified radical mastoidectomy and type IV in 14 cases (25.4%), radical mastoidectomy in 2 cases (3.6%), tympanoplasty type III in 9 cases (16.3%), and tympanoplasty type IV in 6 cases (10.9%).
Results: The ossicles were eroded according to the following Table:
Maleus | Incus | Stapes | |
---|---|---|---|
Partial erosion | 39 (70.9%) | 38 (69%) | 9 (16.3%) |
Full erosion | 10 (18.1%) | 12 (21.8%) | 15 (27.2%) |
No erosion | 3 (5.4%) | 0 | 30 (54.5%) |
Removal in surgery | 3 (5.4%) | 5 (9%) | 1 (1.8%) |
Conclusion: As expected, incus was found eroded in most cases. However, maleus was also found eroded (partially or fully) in a similar percentage, whereas stapes was found intact in the majority of cases. This has a serious impact in surgery planning and hearing conservation surgery.