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Multicenter Study
. 2019 Sep 27:34:57.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.57.11714. eCollection 2019.

Audiological function in a group of adults following myringoplasty: an exploratory study in South Africa

Katijah Khoza-Shangase  1 , Namita Ramdin  1
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Audiological function in a group of adults following myringoplasty: an exploratory study in South Africa

Katijah Khoza-Shangase et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media is a global middle ear disease with quality of life as economic implications, which are worse felt in low and middle income (LAMI) countries; thus the need for myringoplasty. This study aimed to explore audiological function in a group of adults following myringoplasty in South Africa, with an exploration of the possible influence of factors such as HIV/AIDS and type of surgical technique on hearing outcomes.

Methods: Within a retrospective chart review research design, 41 participant files for a six-year period from two academic hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa, were reviewed. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Participant files comprised of 16 males and 25 females between 18-63 years. Findings revealed that clinically, overall hearing improved post-operatively, as indicated by improved tympanometry findings, pure tone air-conduction and speech reception thresholds. Descriptively, the predictors of improved hearing outcomes post-operatively appeared to be HIV negative status and butterfly cartilage inlay surgery as a surgical technique adopted. Although clinically, hearing outcomes improved post-operatively at all air-conduction frequencies tested; these clinical improvements were only statistically significant at specific frequencies.

Conclusion: Current findings provide useful initial evidence on the benefits of myringoplasty from the South African context; particularly because of the HIV/AIDS prevalence and its potential influence on middle ear disease and its management. Prospective efficacy studies with bigger sample sizes are recommended, with early identification strategies for middle ear disease to reduce the need for myringoplasty seriously considered bearing in mind the resource constraints.

Keywords: Audiology; HIV; South Africa; hearing; myringoplasty; otitis media; tympanometry; tympanoplasty.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Annex 1
Annex 1
Data capturing form
Figure 1
Figure 1
Tympanometry results post-operatively (n=36)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean air-conduction (AC) thresholds pre and post-operatively (dB)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean bone-conduction (BC) thresholds pre and post-operatively (dB)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean hearing gain (dB) per frequency (Hz)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mean air-bone gap (ABG) (dB) pre and post-operatively
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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