Management of tympanic membrane retractions: a systematic review.

IMPORTANCE: Tympanic membrane retraction (TMR) is a relatively common otological finding. However, no consensus on its management exists. We are looking especially for a treatment strategy in the military population who are unable to attend frequent follow-up visits, and who experience relatively more barotrauma at great heights and depths and easily suffer from otitis externa from less hygienic circumstances. OBJECTIVE: To assess and summarize the available evidence for the effectiveness of surgical interventions and watchful waiting policy in patients with a tympanic membrane retraction. EVIDENCE REVIEW: The protocol for this systematic review was published at Prospero (207859). PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically searched from inception up to September 2020 for published and unpublished studies. We included randomized trials and observational studies that investigated surgical interventions (tympanoplasty, ventilation tube insertion) and wait-and-see policy. The primary outcomes of this study were clinical remission of the tympanic membrane retraction, tympanic membrane perforations and cholesteatoma development. FINDINGS: In total, 27 studies were included, consisting of 1566 patients with TMRs. We included data from 2 randomized controlled trials (76 patients) and 25 observational studies (1490 patients). Seven studies (329 patients) investigated excision of the TMR with and without ventilation tube placement, 3 studies (207 patients) investigated the wait-and-see policy and 17 studies (1030 patients) investigated tympanoplasty for the treatment of TMRs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study provides all the studies that have been published on the surgical management and wait-and-policy for tympanic membrane retractions. No high level of evidence comparative studies has been performed. The evidence for the management of tympanic membrane retractions is heterogenous and depends on many factors such as the patient population, location and severity of the TMR and presence of other ear pathologies (e.g., perforation, risk of cholesteatoma and serous otitis media).

The Natural Course of Tympanic Membrane Retractions in the Posterosuperior Quadrant of Pars Tensa: A Watchful Waiting Policy.

INTRODUCTION: Tympanic membrane retraction (TMR) is a relatively common otologic finding. Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment of TMR. Some ENT-surgeons advocate surgical correction while others opt for a watchful-waiting policy. Our aim was to investigate the natural course of retraction pockets in the posterosuperior quadrant of the pars tensa in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted including patients of all ages with a posterosuperior pars tensa retraction. Primary outcome measure was difference between audiometry at first and last visits. Secondary outcomes were patients' complaints, otoscopic outcomes (Sade classification), and complications (perforation, ossicular chain damage, and/or cholesteatoma). RESULTS: A total of 71 patients with 81 ears and a median age of 23 years (IQR 14-47) were included. The median duration of follow-up was 64 months (IQR 44-102). The mean air-bone gap at first and last visits was 17.9 dB (SD 11.3) and 15.5 dB (SD 12.9), respectively, with a mean improvement of 2.4 dB (p = 0.08). In 10 ears (12%) the hearing level (air-bone gap) deteriorated with 10 dB or more. Patients who presented with a TMR Sade grade I at first visit had significantly better audiometric outcomes than patients presenting with Sade grade III (p = 0.001). Progression to cholesteatoma occurred in one patient (1%), progression to perforation occurred in five patients (6%), and progression to ossicular chain damage occurred in five patients (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Otoscopic findings and audiometric results remained stable in most TMRs without treatment. Additionally, audiometry did not worsen during last follow-up. Progression to cholesteatoma, perforation, or ossicular chain damage was rare. Shared decision making regarding TMRs should include a discussion of a wait-and-see policy.