Taste Changes in Patients With Middle Ear Surgery by Intraoperative Manipulation of Chorda Tympani Nerve

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of study was to evaluate the subjective changes of taste and salivation after middle ear surgery according to chorda tympani nerve (CTN) injury.

Study design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Patients: We enrolled 180 patients older than 13 years old who received middle ear surgery.

Interventions: The patients were classified into cut, manipulated, and intact groups according to intraoperative assessments of the CTN. The patients responded taste and salivation surveys preoperatively, and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.

Main outcome measures: We analyzed results of questionnaires including disturbance rates, severity and character to evaluate taste and salivation functions.

Results: Taste disturbance rate was significantly improved in all groups during follow-up (p < 0.05). The incidence of taste disturbance did not differ significantly between the three groups at each follow-up (p > 0.05). The taste disturbance score improved gradually in the cut and intact groups (p < 0.001), but not in the manipulated group (p = 0.067). Among the patients with taste disturbance, hypoguesia was most common symptom. Incidence of salivation disturbance did not differ between the three groups (p = 0.298). However, this symptom improved significantly only in the intact group (p < 0.001). The taste and salivation disturbance rate was not different between patients with and without chronic otitis media at 3 and 6 months, and both groups showed significant improvement.

Conclusions: Prevalence of taste and salivation disturbance was similar between three groups until 6 months. However, taste disturbance did not improve in the manipulated group and salivation disturbance improved only in the intact group.