Evaluation of vestibular functions in patients with chronic otitis media

In this study, it was aimed to examine the vestibular system involvement in patients with chronic otitis media and surgery. A total of 45 patients (21 males, 24 females) aged 17-63, who were diagnosed with COM and planned for surgery between November 2019 and December 2021 at Çukurova University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, were included in this study. The patients were divided into two subgroups according to the surgical procedure performed as type 1 tympanoplasty (n:26) and canal wall up mastoidectomy (n:19) groups according to the surgical procedure performed. All patients were evaluated with VHIT preoperatively and postoperatively (1 month). When the patients were evaluated before and after surgery, no statistically significant difference was found between pathological and healthy ears. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in pre- and postoperative VOR gains in both surgical groups (p>0.05). As a result, VOR gains of COM patients before and after surgery were within normal limits. It can clearly reveal vestibular dysfunction in patients with COM; There is a need for studies that increase the number of patients, include additional quantitative data, and confirm a strong correlation between the two variables. In addition, we think that it may be helpful to use tests that can evaluate low-frequency SSC functions and otolithic organs together with VHIT in the pre- and postoperative vestibular evaluation in patients diagnosed with COM.