2020 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 122-126
Middle ear risk is an important prognostic factor for hearing outcome in tympanoplasty. Two scoring systems, the middle ear risk index (MERI) and ossiculoplasty outcome parameter staging (OOPS) index, have been used as a tool for evaluating middle ear risk in microscopic tympanoplasty. In the present study, we evaluated the validity of these systems as a prognostic tool for hearing outcome in thirty nine patients who underwent total endoscopic tympanoplasty. The mean values of the MERI and OOPS indices were 5.0 and 3.2, respectively. Average postoperative air bone gap was: mild, 17.5 dB; moderate, 18.1 dB; and severe, 22.3 dB in the MERI grade (p = 0.51); and mild, 16.9 dB; moderate, 20.6 dB; severe, 36.3 dB in the OOPS index grade (p = 0.06). Only a small correlation could be demonstrated between the OOPS index grade and success rate according to the AAO-HNS guidelines (p = 0.29). Moreover, a weak but statistically significant correlation was detected between the OOPS index grade and postoperative air bone gap (R = 0.46, p < 0.01). We conclude that the OOPS index adequately predicts hearing outcome in total endoscopic tympanoplasty.
