Tympanoplasty following Blast Injury

ObjectivesTo assess outcomes following tympanoplasty for blast-induced tympanic membrane perforations in a military population.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingTertiary care medical centers.Subjects and MethodsMilitary personnel (N = 254) undergoing tympanoplasty for blast-related tympanic membrane perforations sustained between April 2005 and July 2014 were identified from the Expeditionary Medical Encounter Database. Descriptive statistics were obtained regarding demographics, primary and revision surgery success rates, hearing status pre- and postsurgery, and frequency of ossicular reconstruction. Rates of successful perforation closure were assessed against perforation size and character (central vs marginal) and time to surgery. Rates and types of complications were additionally explored.ResultsThere were a total of 352 operations among 254 subjects, with an 82.1% rate of successful closure following primary surgery. For successful primary tympanoplasty, the mean improvement in pure t...