Study of Correlation of Pre-Operative Findings with Intra-Operative Ossicular Status in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media

INTRODUCTION: Chronic otitis media (COM) has been broadly classified into mucosal and squamous subtypes. COM types are associated with erosion of the ossicular chain. The aim of the present study was to correlate the type of COM, the site of perforation/retraction, and the type of disease pathology with the pattern and degree of ossicular chain necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed in 76 cases of COM, who were subjected to tympanomastoidectomy. Pre-operative findings were compared with per-operative ossicular chain status and pathology. RESULTS: Incus was found to be the most vulnerable ossicle for erosion, followed by malleus and suprastructure of stapes. The pattern of multiple ossicle involvement was more common. Ossicular chain erosion was more common in squamous COM than mucosal COM (X(2)=66.25; P=0.0001) and in the presence of cholesteatoma and granulations. Ossicular necrosis was most common in squamous disease with cholesteatoma, followed by squamous disease with granulations, mucosal disease with granulations, and inactive mucosal disease in that order. CONCLUSION: The degree of ossicular necrosis has a positive correlation with the type of disease pathology, being higher in squamous disease than in mucosal disease. The pattern of ossicular necrosis varies with the site of origin of the disease and the pattern of spread of cholesteatoma, being variable for pars tensa and pars flaccida squamous disease.