Can Wideband Absorbance Be Used in the Detection of Ossicular Chain Defects

Introduction:We aimed to compare the effectiveness of wideband absorbance in detecting ossicular chain discontinuity with intraoperative findings.Materials and Methods:In this study, ۵۸ ears from ۳۸ patients with chronic otitis media (COM) were included. Twenty-six ears with perforation and intact ossicular chain were determined as Group ۱, ۱۲ ears with perforation and ossicular chain defects were determined as Group ۲, and ۲۰ ears with normal hearing and intact tympanic membrane were determined as Group ۳. The comparison of the groups was made considering the static (non-pressure) absorbance analysis performed using wideband tympanometry.Results:When perforation sites were evaluated in Group ۱ and Group ۲; there were ۱۲ anterior perforations, ۷ posterior perforations, and ۱۹ subtotal perforations. Air conduction thresholds in Group ۲ were significantly (P<۰.۰۵) higher than in Group ۱, as expected in pure tone audiometry. When wideband absorbance (WBA) measurements were evaluated in all ۳ groups, no significant difference (P>۰.۰۵) was found between the frequencies ۲۲۶ to ۱۰۰۰ Hz. WBA measurements at ۸ frequencies between ۱۸۸۸-۲۳۱۱ Hz in Group ۱ were significantly lower than Group ۳ (P<۰.۰۵). WBA measurements at ۴ frequencies between ۳۴۶۲-۳۸۸۶ Hz frequencies in Group ۲ were significantly lower than Group ۱ (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusions:Our findings concluded that a significant decrease in absorbance values in the narrow frequency range may be valuable in predicting ossicular chain defects.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acoustic impedance tests ، Middle Ear ، ear ossicles ، Hearing Loss ، Otitis media