Revised grading system of tympanosclerosis

Tympanosclerosis (TS) is a common sequelae of chronic otitis media found in all age groups, this study was conducted to analyze the extent of tympanosclerosis in patients operated for chronic suppurative otitis media in our hospital and have intraoperative findings of tympanosclerosis. 165 patients of tympanoplasty who had TS involving ossicular chain, were enrolled in our study. Pre operative air bone gap and operative findings of extent of TS involving ossicles was recorded, time required to mobilize ossicles was also recorded. Post operative air bone gap was documented after 3 months of surgery. This study showed that majority of patients were females from rural area. Most of the patients had grade II tympanosclerosis followed by grade III. There was no statistically significant difference in post operative air bone gap in patients with grade I and grade II TS. Our new grading system for TS removes the overlap between various grading systems for TS developed in past. New grading system for TS helps us to determine time taken for mobilizing ossicular chain, type of ossiculoplasty required and outcome of tympanoplasty surgery.