Examination of tympanic membrane scarring

  The tympanic scarring produces tympanosclerosis, which is also called tympanic ventricular vitreous degeneration, and is caused by the deposition of plaques of collagen tissue under the epithelium of the tympanic mucosa, mostly on the tympanic ventricular mucosa and the auditory bone. It involves the upper tympanic chamber more severely and the lower tympanic chamber less severely, with the hammer bone, anvil, stapes and tendons being the most susceptible, thus causing much deafness. It was discovered by Cassebohm in the 18th century, but did not receive much attention until recent times (1955), when a large number of microscopic otologic procedures were performed.  Gibb reported 138 cases, all with a history of chronic otitis media, 80% with dry ears, and 84% with large perforations in the tense tympanic membrane. The surface scarring of the tympanic membrane was in the form of grayish-white patches of varying size, and sometimes hard grayish-yellow patches on the tympanic ring, on the surface of the tympanic capsule, behind the hammer bone stalk and around the stapes were visible through the large perforation, directly affecting the tympanic membrane and hearing bone activity. Pure tone audiometry is conductive deafness with a hearing level of 30 to 50 dB. Impedance audiometry and tympanic chamber pressure are normal when the tympanic membrane is not perforated, and the acoustic cogram is As-shaped. Papillary radiographs show interstitial or sclerotic papillae.  A postauricular or intraauricular incision is made for tympanoplasty, and under the microscope, the sclerotic plaque is carefully peeled off according to the extent of the sclerotic plaque. The upper tympanic chamber and the area around the auditory bone are the areas where sclerosis is common, and they are peeled off layer by layer by applying a crochet needle and stripper. The long foot of the anvil and the arch of the stirrup bone are often necrotic and disappearing, so they should be replaced by a bone graft, and the calcified tympanic membrane can be removed by making an incision at the tympanic ring and peeling it off outside the fiber layer. It is difficult to remove the sclerotic foci in the drum capsule and the two windows, and they are prone to recurrence after surgery.