이명환자에서 만성중이염 수술 후 이명의 변화

Background: The central auditory pathway causing tinnitus could be affected by the alterations of peripheral auditory system, like middle ear surgery. There are few datas that the effect of middle ear surgery on tinnitus. In this study, we tried to evaluate the changes of tinnitus after middle ear surgery for treatment of unilateral chronic otitis media with tinnitus. Methods: Retrospective review were performed for 36 patients who had undergone middle ear surgery due to chronic otitis media with tinnitus. The patients underwent a medical and audiological protocol for tinnitus before and after middle ear surgery. We compared pre and postoperative findings such as hearing improvement, tinnitus frequency and loudness, hearing improvement at tinnitus frequency and handicap of tinnitus. Results: Postoperative hearing improvement was seen in 100% of both group B and C, and 22% in group A. The hearing improvement at tinnitus frequency was 92% in group C, 33% in group B and 11% in group A. The loudness of tinnitus was all decreased in group C, no change at 67% of group B and all increased in group A after middle ear surgery. Conclusions: The effect of middle ear surgery on tinnitus in patient with chronic otitis media are closely related with the hearing improvement after ear surgery, especially at the tinnitus frequency. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2009;20:207–213)