Hearing results of surgery for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma.

Hearing results after surgical treatment for chronic otitis media were evaluated in 569 patients. Cases of cholesteatoma were excluded. The mean follow-up period was 5.2 years. Ears with intact ossicular chain showed best postoperative hearing function. Satisfactory hearing results were obtained in 68% of ears with eroded ossicles but intact stapes and in only 50% of ears with loss of stapes superstructure. Cases of sequelae to otitis showed better hearing results than cases of granulating otitis media. At last follow-up examination, 72 percent of the whole series had hearing levels of 30 dB or better.