A retrospective study on post-operative hearing of middle ear cholesteatoma patients with labyrinthine fistula.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no significant change in bone conduction threshold after operation, so the tympanoplasty can be done to maintain hearing when conditions allow.

OBJECTIVE

To study the impact of surgical treatment on hearing of cholesteatoma patients with labyrinthine fistula.

METHODS

The clinical data of 35 patients (35 ears) with labyrinthine fistula, which were caused by cholesteatoma, were analyzed retrospectively. The hearing of 21 patients was followed up.

RESULTS

Three months to 5 years follow-up of 21 patients were accomplished by pure tone audiometry and other details. There was no recurrent cholesteatoma in the patients. Compared with pre-operative average bone conduction at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz, 12 cases had a difference less than 5 dB, three patients' hearing improved (more than 10 dB), and five cases declined (more than 10 dB). One patient received cochlear implantation 3 months after the surgery. The average bone and air conduction thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz had no obvious change (p > 0.05) in 11 patients managed by a canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty.