Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Pars tensa retractions without cholesteatoma in children: predictors for ossicular chain destruction, air conduction thresholds, and postoperative retractions.
Determine predictive values of preoperative stages of pars tensa retractions, coexisting attic retraction and preoperative air conduction for ossicular destruction in isolated and combined pars tensa retraction, and predictors for successful tympanic grafts after surgery. ⋯ Absence of correlation between stage of pars tensa retraction and air conduction thresholds with ossicular defects justifies surgical exploration of the auditory ossicles, even in lower stages of retraction. Combined ossicular defect is expected in combined retractions. The usage of cartilage graft proved to be more appropriate.