Predictors of anatomical and functional outcomes following tympanoplasty: A retrospective study of 413 procedures

OBJECTIVES: To identify the predictors of anatomical and functional outcomes following tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) who underwent a tympanoplasty at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively included. Outcome measures included graft success and postoperative pure tone audiometry air‐bone gap (PTA‐ABG) at last follow‐up (≥6 months). PTA‐ABG and MERI were calculated. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the predictors of the graft and hearing outcomes. RESULTS: During the study, 385 patients (167 male, 218 female, median age 44 years) undergoing 413 procedures were studied. Out of this, 219 ears underwent tympanoplasty, 45 ears had tympanoplasty with canal wall up mastoidectomy, and 149 ears had tympanoplasty with canal wall down mastoidectomy. At the last follow‐up, the overall graft success rate was 91.3% (377/413) and the overall hearing success rate was 40% (165/413). Multivariable analysis results showed that the obstructed aditus ad antrum (OR 2.67, 95%CI 1.13‐6.30; P = .025) was an independent prognostic factor for graft failures. Moreover, the obstructed aditus ad antrum (OR 2.18, 95%CI 1.16‐4.08; P = .015) and MERI >3 (OR 6.53, 95%CI 3.55‐12.02; P < .001) were independent predictors of hearing failures (PTA‐ABG > 20 dB). CONCLUSIONS: Aditus ad antrum patency was an independent predictor of both graft and hearing success among patients following tympanoplasty. MERI score greater than three was found to be a significant predictor of postoperative hearing and could serve as a useful tool for assisting clinicians in perioperative risk assessment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.