ASSESSMENT OF HEARING OUTCOME IN ENDOSCOPIC TYMPANOPLASTY BY UNDERLAY TECHNIQUE

AIM: To study the hearing outcome of “Endoscopic Tympanoplasty” by underlay technique. METHODS: This study includes 30 patients presenting with Chronic Suppurative Otitis MediaTubotympanic type. Preoperative assessment includes complete clinical history, thorough ENT examination, X-ray mastoids, Pure Tone Audiogram and routine investigations. Informed and written consent was obtained from all the patients. All the patients were subjected to endoscopic transcanal tympanoplasty by underlay technique using temporalis fascia. Patients were regularly followed up for a period of 3 months and at the end of 3 months pure tone audiogram was done to assess hearing. RESULTS: In our study of 30 patients postoperatively, 80% of the patients had successful graft uptake. In our study, postoperative air-bone gap closure was in the range of 0-10 dB in 55% of patients, 11-20 dB in 20% of patients, 21-30 dB in 5% of patients and 31-40 dB in 20% of patients. CONCLUSION: Transcanal Endoscopic Tympanoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical approach as the endoscope usage provides good exposure of tympanic membrane and improves the visualisation of middle ear structures without canaloplasty