Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Modified Subtotal Petrosectomy With Ear Canal Closure for Chronic Otitis Media

Objective To assess quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes after modified subtotal petrosectomy with ear canal closure (mSTP) for chronic otitis media. Study Design Survey study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Patients with chronic otitis media. Interventions mSTP. Main Outcome Measures Survey results from enrolled patients on the validated disease-specific Chronic Ear Survey (CES) and Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test-15 (COMOT-15) regarding their current state of health and, if surgery was performed within 3 years of enrollment, their state of health before mSTP. Results A total of 23 patients were studied, including 19 who underwent surgery within 3 years of enrollment. Postoperatively, mean total CES scores were 80 and COMOT-15 scores were 41, with a higher CES and a lower COMOT-15 indicating better QoL. There were statistically significant improvements after mSTP in the CES activity restriction (25% difference; p = 0.008), symptom (17% difference; p = 0.007), and medical resource (13% difference; p = 0.03) domain and total (18% difference; p = 0.006) scores. In addition, there were statistically significant improvements in the COMOT-15 ear symptom (-22% difference; p < 0.001) domain and total (-16% difference; p = 0.01) scores; however, improvements in the hearing function and mental health domains did not achieve statistical significance. Postoperative COMOT-15 total scores were significantly better for patients who underwent aural rehabilitation compared to those who did not (-17% difference; p < 0.001). Conclusion Modified subtotal petrosectomy with ear canal closure is a useful intervention for patients with recalcitrant chronic otitis media, offering improved QoL in appropriately selected patients. Aural rehabilitation, when feasible, provides the potential for further QoL improvement.