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Otorinolaringologia 2011 March;61(1):11-7

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Medical and surgical update on “atelectasic - adhesive - tympanosclerotic” otitis media

Ferrara S. ¹, Di Marzo M. ², Martines F. ¹, Ferrara P. ²

¹ Sezione di Otorinolaringoiatria, dell’Università di Palermo, Dipartimento di BioNeC, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italia ² Unità Funzionale di Otorinolaringoiatria, Casa di Cura Macchiarella, Palermo, Italia

Otitis media secretive is one of the most common ear diseases characterized by frequent sequelae and complications; in particular the authors describe middle ear atelectasis with pocket retraction of tympanic membrane, pocket retraction limited to pars tensa or to pars flaccida, adhesive otitis media, partial or total myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis. For each disease the authors comment the best surgical approaches to preserve and restore conductive hearing loss. As for middle ear atelectasis, adhesive otitis media, myringosclerosis and partial tympanosclerosis it was evidenced a significant hearing gain while in total tympanosclerosis there was an initial hearing improvement in a short follow-up even if there are no good long-term results. According to literature data and due to bad long-term hearing results the authors advise against surgical approach to middle ear tympanosclerosis.