Postoperative change in wideband absorbance after tympanoplasty in chronic suppurative otitis media

Objective: To identify the wideband absorbance (WBA) of reconstructed TM comparing with perforated and normal TM, and to investigate the efficacy of WBA to predict postoperative hearing outcome. Methods: Ninety-eight adults (128 ears) with normal TM and 40 patients (40 ears) who were diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and underwent tympanoplasty type 1 were enrolled. Pure tone audiometry and WBA were measured before and 6 and 12 months after surgery. Finally, only 29 patients in CSOM group completed all the tests. Results: Significant differences in WBA were observed between normal ears, CSOM, and reconstructed ears at middle to high frequencies. During follow-up, absorbance decreased at low frequencies and increased at middle to high. Significant positive correlation at low to middle frequency was observed between change in air-bone gaps (ABG) and absorbance at corresponding frequencies. Conclusion: WBA inpatients with CSOM was significantly different from normal TM, and a significant change in WBA was observed after tympanoplasty with improvement of ABG. WBA may be a useful tool for monitoring the postoperative change in absorbance of sound energy in the middle ear. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.