OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of plasma eardrum perforation homochronous with palatoplasty on hearing and tympanic cavity pressure in cleft palate children with secretory otitis media. METHOD: Fifty-six cases of cleft palate children with secretory otitis media were randomly divided into observation group and control group. For the control group, palatoplasty was carried out alone. For the observation group, homochronous with palatoplasty, plasma eardrum perforation was performed with the diameter of the aperture 2-3 mm, which was decided by observing viscosity of tympanum fluid under microscope or otoscope. RESULT: Compared with the simple cleft palate repairing palatoplasty, the perforation in the observation group could keep for 6-8 weeks after the surgery. Followed up 6 months later, the children in observation group improved better in terms of hearing restoration and tympanometry. CONCLUSION By means of plasma eardrum perforation homochronous with palatoplasty, the children of cleft palate with secretory otitis media could improve hearing and tympanometry in a short period, recovering the function of middle ear.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Child ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; surgery ; Palate ; surgery ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation