Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the wet ear at time of surgery adversely affects the success rate of myringoplasty operations.

MATERIALS and METHODS: A total of 46 wet ears (with mucoid discharge) and 52 dry ears (at least 1 month before surgery) with mucosal chronic suppurative otitis media were operated on by myringoplasty. Graft take and hearing gain rates 6 months after surgery were calculated for both groups and compared.

RESULTS: The graft take rate was 87% for the wet ear group and 90.4% for the dry ear group. The hearing gain rate was 91.3% for the wet ear group and 92.3% for the dry ear group. Differences were found to be statistically nonsignificant for both graft intake (p=0.665) and hearing gain (p=1.00).

CONCLUSION: The success of myringoplasty is not adversely affected by the presence of mucoid ear discharge at time of surgery, and outcomes are comparable to those of the operation done for dry ear.