Tubomanometry. Values in ears with traumatic and chronic perforations.

The tubal function of 68 patients with a unilateral traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane and 116 ears of 94 patients with chronic otitis media were examined by equalization manometry. The values obtained in the traumatic group are regarded as being characteristic of normal tubal function: the patients were able to equalize +/- 30 hPa difference in pressure with between three and seven swallows. Only 25% of the ears with a dry central perforation and none with an infected central perforation were able to fulfil this requirement.