Postoperative tinnitus dynamics in chronic otitis media patients with and without tinnitus.

BACKGROUND

Tinnitus is a common symptom in patients of chronic otitis media (COM), but data regarding its dynamics after middle ear surgery is limited. Furthermore, the mechanism of new-onset tinnitus post-surgery surgery remains unclear.

AIM: To analyze postoperative tinnitus changes and contributing factors in COM patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Clinical statistics were collected from 55 COM patients. Tinnitus severity was evaluated using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) preoperatively and follow-up points (7 days, 1 month and 6 months postoperatively). Statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Among 28 patients with preexisting tinnitus, 20 cases (71.43%) reported tinnitus improvement 6 months post-surgery. THI scores, along with emotional and catastrophic subscale scores, were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Among the 27 patients without preoperative tinnitus, 8 (29.6%) developed transient new-onset tinnitus, which resolved completely within 3 months. Patients of new-onset tinnitus showed better preoperative hearing thresholds than those without new-onset tinnitus (p < 0.05). No significant predictors were identified for the improvement of preexisting tinnitus.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Surgery alleviates preexisting tinnitus in most COM patients, especially reducing emotional burden. Patients developing new-onset tinnitus exhibit better preoperative hearing, potentially due to transient conductive hearing loss.