Clinical analysis of intratympanic tympanosclerosis: etiology, ossicular chain findings, and hearing results of surgery.

CONCLUSION

The success rate (57.5%) in this study is not high for surgical treatment of tympanosclerosis, and therefore lends further evidence that intratympanic tympanosclerosis has been considered intractable for reconstructive surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical findings and surgical results of intratympanic tympanosclerosis.

METHODS

From January 1989 to December 2006, a total of 1523 tympanoplasties were performed. Of these, 84 tailored tympanomastoidectomies were performed for tympanosclerosis in 80 patients.

RESULTS

The incidence of intratympanic tympanosclerosis with chronic ear disease was 5.5%. Chronic otitis media was the most common etiologic factor for the tympanosclerosis (79 ears, 94.1%). Tympanosclerosis in the middle ear cavity was most often found around the malleus handle (67 ears, 79.8%), and more than half of the cases of tympanosclerosis (43 ears, 51.2%) had multiple areas affected by the sclerotic tissue. Tympanosclerotic fixation of the stapes was found in 31 ears (36.9%), and an intact ossicular chain was seen in 57 ears (67.9%). There was a postoperative improvement in hearing in 42 ears (57.5%).