Abstract
Objective: We investigated gustatory changes in patients with chronic otitis media, before and after middle-ear surgery.Methods: This prospective study included 38 patients with unilateral chronic otitis media. We used taste testing solutions to evaluate each patient's taste function. Intra-operative assessments of the chorda tympani nerve were also compared and analysed.Results: Patients with chronic otitis media had significantly worse ipsilateral perception of sour, bitter and salty tastes. In patients with good intra-operative preservation of the chorda tympani nerve, there was significant improvement in gustatory function one month post-operatively, compared with the pre-operative baseline. In patients who sustained intra-operative chorda tympani nerve injury, one month post-operative gustatory function was the same as the pre-operative baseline.Conclusion: Middle-ear surgery for chronic otitis media not only treats the ear but also improves gustatory function in the majority of patients. In patients with intra-operative injury to the chorda tympani nerve, post-operative taste decline is only temporary.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 470-474 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Laryngology and Otology |
Volume | 126 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Chorda Tympani Nerve
- Ear
- Hypogeusia
- Middle
- Otitis Media
- Taste
- Tympanoplasty
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology