Cicatricial Changes Of The Eardrum After Treatment With Grommets

Abstract

79 of 117 patients, treated with grommets for chronic secretory otitis media, developed cicatricial changes (atrophy or/and fibrosis) of the eardrums. 38 of these patients had only minor changes at the former grommet site. Atrophic drum was related to a “negative” middle ear pressure (i.e. dysfunction of the Eustachian tube). Fibrosis of the drum, in some cases in combination with atrophy, was found more frequently among patients with long drainage time. Hearing was not affected in any of the groups.